Local MP condemns Boundary Commission plans as utter madness

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 23rd May 2009

John Thurso, local Liberal Democrat MP, condemned plans to create a huge new Holyrood constituency consisting of almost half the Highlands as utter madness this week. The new constituency would stretch from John O'Groats to Locharron and from Cape Wrath to the outskirts of the Muir of Ord.

The size of the proposed new constituency could leave its MSP with a potential 5 hour drive from one end to the other. The equivalent of an English MP having to drive from London to Newcastle in order to properly represent their constituency.

John Thurso along with Jamie Stone MSP whose constituency this would be said that the decision was even more bizarre in that although almost the entirety of Ross-shire would be in the new constituency, Dingwall, the county town would not.

Westminster MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, John Thurso, went even further in his condemnation of the proposal.

"This is vandalism of the Highlands writ large," he said.

"I naturally have more than a passing interest in this, because quite often the Scottish boundaries follow the Westminster ones and vice versa. The last time there was a review of my area in 2005, Alness and Evanton were included, making my constituency around 3400 sq miles. Imagine now how big this proposed area would be.

"It is utter madness. And perhaps more important than the sheer physical size of the constituency is the loss of a sense of community. Each county is diverse.

"For instance, there is the concentrated population around Wick and Thurso, and Caithness identifies very much with Dounreay and farming. Sutherland is as different again, with crofting rather than farming, and then Easter Ross is more industrial and urban, while Wester Ross is as different again. I cannot see someone in Applecross feeling much affinity with someone in Wick.

"The whole thing is just a numbers issue and lines on maps. They have no concept of the geography of the area. I try as much as possible to visit the outlying areas of my constituency because they deserve my attention as much as the towns, but whoever serves this new area will be hard-pushed to do that."

Members of the public are encouraged to give their views on the commission's proposals. The deadline for doing so is June 21. Comments can be e-mailed to representations@scottishboundaries.gov.uk or by using the reply facility on the commission's website (www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk). They can also be made in writing to: The Secretary, Boundary Commission for Scotland, 3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7QJ, or by fax to 0131-538-7511.