London MPs unite in revolt over boundaries

They have asked the Boundary Commission to go back to the drawing board with its blueprint for new constituencies and are calling for nearly 100 changes to the original plan.

The number of constituencies is being cut from 73 to 68 and while Labour, the Tories and Liberal Democrats have very different views on the way many seats should be carved up, all three are fighting plans to sever the historic link between the City of London and Westminster.

"I'm quite relaxed for a socialist to represent the City of London. It would be quite a creative relationship," quipped shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry. Her Islington South & Finsbury constituency would expand to take in the City under the Commission's plan.

However, Labour is opposing the idea as part of a slew of changes it is requesting to dozens of seats including those of deputy party leader Harriet Harman, shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and Tottenham MP David Lammy.

Many of the submissions involve swapping a few wards, and are a knock-on effect of other changes which aim to save two Labour seats under threat - Andy Love's in Edmonton and Mike Gapes's in Ilford South. Some of the amendments also aim to protect communities from being split.

Dulwich and West Norwood MP Ms Jowell said: "Until the Commission comes forward with fresh proposals, I am fighting to maintain the status quo, given the vital importance of maintaining stability and cohesion for communities with high levels of need."

The Tories are believed to have made 24 submissions. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is understood to want changes to the proposal to break up his Chingford and Woodford Green constituency. Just over half the seat would merge with a large part of Edmonton and a small chunk of Walthamstow.

The current Cities of London and Westminster seat would take in parts of Bayswater and Lancaster Gate under the Tory plans but lose Knightsbridge and Belgravia to an expanded Kensington seat, now held by Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

Cities of London and Westminster MP Mark Field said: "All three parties are united in the view that the City, which contains fewer than 6,000 votes, should be linked with Westminster."

The Lib-Dems want 33 changes. Their concerns include the splitting of Tom Brake's Carshalton and Wallington constituency, each segment merging with sections of Croydon.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham, has accused the Commission of failing to consider borough boundaries and identities. His seat would be split to create a new Richmond and Twickenham constituency spanning the Thames, which could lead to a showdown between him and Zac Goldsmith, Conservative MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston.