Copeland MP Jamie Reed says plans to reduce Cumbria's six Parliamentary constituencies into five are 'far from perfect'.

The Boundary Commission for England has revealed plans to reduce Cumbria's six Parliamentary constituencies into five.

If accepted, a new coastal constituency – Workington and Whitehaven – would be created with one MP, taking in large parts of the current Copeland constituency and extending north as far as Maryport, incorporating areas including Harrington, Workington, Seaton and Flimby.

The Workington and Whitehaven constituency would end at Muncaster and a host of current Copeland areas including Bootle, Waberthwaite, Haverigg and Millom, would move to the Barrow and Furness constituency.

Keswick, currently part of Copeland, would also move into the Penrith and Solway seat.

Mr Reed said: "Representing the people of Copeland in Parliament is a tremendous privilege.

"As the MP, I have always taken the view that the seat belongs to the people of Copeland, not to me. As such, it is for the people of Copeland to determine whether or not they are happy with these proposals.

"As the incumbent MP, it would certainly be a wrench to lose the communities in and around Millom and Keswick which it has been, and remains, my privilege to serve.

"These proposals may well be subject to change and are far from perfect. Nationwide, these proposals do not take account of the two million additional people who have joined the electoral register as a result of the EU referendum, they do not reduce the ‘cost of politics’ and they may well diminish Cumbria’s voice. All of this is to be regretted."

In voting law, every constituency must be within five per cent of the electoral quota of 74,769; Copeland currently falls well below the limit at 60,785 and the change has been proposed as a result.

The report release marks the start of 12 weeks of consultation during which people are invited to comment at www.bce2018.org.uk

There are two more consultations in 2017 before final recommendations are made to Parliament in September 2018.

If agreed, the new constituencies will be in use for the next General Election scheduled for 2020.