MP hits out at redraw plans

EDINBURGH East Labour MP Sheila Gilmore today spoke out against UK Government plans to shrink the size of the House of Commons and redraw constituencies on inaccurate figures.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition wants to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, which is likely to mean Edinburgh losing one Westminster seat. The new constituencies will be based on the number of people registered to vote.

But Ms Gilmore said: "The Government wants to redraw boundaries based on current registrations, which are low.

"In the parts of my constituency such as Craigmillar or Lochend registration can be as low as 25 per cent. More people registered to vote means more people have a vote and a voice."