Local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has slammed plans to extend his West Dunbartonshire constituency to include Bearsden.

The Boundary Commission review, which is redrawing parliamentary constituencies for Westminster, published its final report this month.

The plans propose cutting the number of Scottish MPs at Westminster by 10 per cent, which would see the existing seat renamed “Dunbartonshire West” and expand to include part of Bearsden, which would be split across two constituencies.

Mr Docherty-Hughes told the Post: “There’s no appetite at present for these boundary changes in West Dunbartonshire or in other affected constituencies across Scotland.

“It was made very clear when these plans were first introduced that extending the West Dunbartonshire seat to include half of Bearsden after dividing it in two is daft and does not reflect existing communities locally.

“I’m disappointed that the Boundary Commission appears to have disregarded the concerns of local residents and representatives.”

Parliament approved the principle of reducing the number of MPs in 2011.

Since then, the Boundary Commission in Scotland and other parts of the UK were meant to redraw constituencies lines every five years to account for population shifts. But this did not materialise and the 2015 general election and snap election in 2017 were fought on the same boundaries as in 2010.

The current proposals, which still need the backing of MPs and peers, would see the number of MPs in the UK fall from 650 to 600, including a reduction in the number of Scottish MPs from 59 to 53.

Mr Docherty-Hughes added: “It’s a democratic outrage that the UK Government is pressing ahead with plans to cut Scotland’s representation at Westminster while the unelected and bloated House of Lords continues to grow.

“It’s more important now than ever that we have strong parliamentary representation to hold this hapless UK Government to account, but the Tories think they can get away with diminishing Scotland’s voice at Westminster.

“These proposals aren’t conducive to effective local democracy and the prime minister should act now to scrap these ludicrous plans.”