SWINDON MPs have reassured residents that proposed changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies will be minimal.

Draft plans published by the Independent Boundary Commissions of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland could see the number of seats in the Commons reduce from 650 to 600.

The review commission has recommended that two Swindon council wards which are currently divided by constituency lines be moved either side of the new boundary line.

Mannington and Western ward would move entirely into South Swindon, similarly the whole Covingham and Dorcan ward would become part of North Swindon.

The proposed changes would see the Even Swindon area including part of Rodbourne and Westlea and Bridgemead become part of the South Swindon constituency.

The North Swindon constituency would add an area including Faraday Park, Liden Drive and Edison Road.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said the changes aren’t as drastic as they first appear.

“It wasn’t a surprise to us at all. A small part of Covingham and Dorcan ward will go to me and Robert will take a large part of Mannington and Western ward from me,” he said.

“Due to the expansion in the Northern quarter of Swindon I had a few thousand more residents in my constituency and this needed to be evened up with Robert’s constituency.

“The Boundaries Commission Department has realised that local wards should not be split. From a Swindon perspective hardly anything changes.

“Robert and I will continue to serve our constituencies as we always have done.”

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland lent his support to the proposals.

“Equality is important, I am supportive of any measure that creates fair and equal representation. The big dramatic changes seem to be elsewhere rather than in Swindon,” he said.

“I would be sad to lose the small part of Covingham and Dorcan but I will still be there working in partnership with Justin as I have always done.

“Myself and Justin take a team approach, we have done ever since we were first candidates 10 or more years ago and that will not change as we serve Swindon.

“Everything is awaiting approval, nothing is set in stone as yet and the boundaries won’t change until the next election.”

Across the country a number of senior political figures could see their seats amalgamated with those of their neighbouring MPs. The parliamentary shake-up will in some areas see existing MPs compete against each other for re-election.

Both contenders in the Labour leadership contest, Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn, will see their constituencies disappear.

Senior Tories including George Osborne, Justine Greening and Boris Johnson will also be affected.