DAVID Mundell will no longer be the elected member for Tweeddale, if the government’s plans to change parliamentary constituencies are accepted.

Revised proposals published by the Boundary Commission for Scotland on Tuesday, show Peebles would join Midlothian, traditionally a Labour heartland, to create a Midlothian and Upper Tweeddale constituency, while Innerleithen would join John Lamont’s Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat.

An eight-week consultation is taking place until Monday, December 11, and is the last chance for the public to have their say.

Mr Mundell said: “It remains a great privilege to serve as the MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, so naturally it is a disappointment that the proposals would mean losing the Tweeddale section of my constituency.

“I do support the reduction in the number of MPs as we need to make parliament cost effective, but of course these changes will only happen if parliament votes for them.

“The revised proposals from the Boundary Commission have taken into account the views of local people and that looks to be the case across Scotland in terms of the revised proposals, which shows that the consultation system is working.

“There is further consultation to be carried out and I would encourage local people to get in touch with comments on the proposed new constituencies to the Commission by December 11.”

As we previously reported, the proposals have been put forward to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600, in an attempt to save £66 million – lowering the number of constituencies in Scotland from 59 to 53.

Fellow Borders MP John Lamont also welcomed the plans: “It is perfectly reasonable for the independent Boundary Commission to look at refreshing the Westminster constituencies, which have remained largely unchanged for nearly 20 years.

“It is now for the public to have their say on these proposals and I’d encourage Borderers to take a look at them.

“I am pleased, however, that the Borders remains largely in the same parliamentary constituency. While parts of Tweeddale will be in a new seat, the majority of the Borders will be represented by one MP. Our area is linked by common traditions and it makes sense to have one MP representing this community in Westminster.”

Lord Matthews, deputy chairman of the Boundary Commission for Scotland, also encouraged Borderers to view the plans and have their say: “After careful consideration of all of the comments received during the consultations on the initial proposals (in October 2016), the Commission has designed this revised set of constituencies. 

“Where the legislation has allowed it, we have tried to respond to the views expressed to us.

“This is the final opportunity we have to obtain views on our proposals so we can further improve them where the legislation allows us to do so. I hope people will take the opportunity to contribute, whether for or against what we have proposed.”

The consultation is available at: http://www.bcommscotland.independent.gov.uk/2018_westminster/