'Huge anger' feared in election changes plan

GOVERNMENT plans to break down barriers between historic parts of Yorkshire when they redraw the electoral map risk creating "huge anger", Ministers have been warned.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Nov 2010, 11:13 BST

Updated 3rd Nov 2010, 11:13 BST

Bigger constituencies that cross town and county barriers could swallow up parts of Rotherham and Sheffield rather than respecting their historic identities.

And Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Angela Smith has warned of the "fear" that Sheffield could share a constituency with Leeds under the Government's radical shake-up which will axe 50 seats.

Concern over the plans to make constituencies the same size spilled over as the measures – included in the same Bill that will authorise a referendum on changing the voting system – were debated by MPs.

Rotherham MP Denis MacShane said: "My small town of Rotherham which has three MPs would rather fuse with the Western Isles or Wales than have anything to do with Sheffield. There will be huge anger, concern and distress if we are reduced to American-style districts."