Donald Dewar

Number of Scottish MPs at Westminster to be Cut

The Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewar, told the House of Commons that he will ask the Boundary Commission to look into a reduction of the number of Scottish MPs. The current law decrees a minimum number of 71 MPs; at the last general election Scotland returned 72 MPs to Westminster.

Press reports predicted a reduction of Scottish MPs by possibly as many as a dozen.

The next Boundary Commission review is not due for another seven to nine years, which will mean that the present number of Scottish MPs is almost certain to be kept in place for the next Westminster elections.

The Government argues that Scotland is over-represented in the Commons, in proportion to the size of its population. Another complication is the so-called West Lothian Question, a dispute over whether - after devolution - Scottish MPs should have the right to vote on English issues, while English MPs can't vote on many matters affecting Scotland.

Opposition politicians air their views on the changes. Dur. 7'33"

Malcolm Bruce: "This is about improving democracy"

The Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce, whose seat in Gordon may be one of those most at risk if the number of Scottish constituencies is cut, brushed off the threat. He said it would not come into effect for ten years.

"The proposal for a Scottish Parliament is a century-old commitment for Liberal Democrats. It's now within striking distance of being achieved," he told BBC Radio.

Raymond Robertson, the new chairman of the Scottish Conservatives and an ex-MP, attacked any plans to cut the number of Scottish seats at Westminster.

"It shows that the Labour party, frankly, are all over the place on some of the key issues," he said.

"It's not so long ago that George Robertson, when he was Shadow Secretary of State, was saying that 72 MPs from Scotland to Westminster was inviolate. Now we're being led to believe that is not the case. It marginalises completely Scotland's role in the UK Parliament."