SOUTH Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell has said he is "stridently opposed" to proposals that would see his constituency disappear from the north's electoral map.
Boundary Commission recommendations unveiled yesterday would see the number of Northern Ireland MPs at Westminster reduced from 18 to 17.
The radical revamp is designed to make the numbers in every constituency roughly equal, with eligible voters in each ranging from between 71,000 to 78,500 after the boundary changes. The changes would see the overall number of of Westminster seats cut from 650 to 600.
The commission's proposals, which will be the subject of a 12-week consultation, would see the creation of eight new constituencies, with the number of MPs representing Belfast cut from four to three.
Among those constituencies that would disappear are East Derry, North Antrim and South Belfast. Meanwhile, new constituencies will be created, including Dalriada, West Antrim and Upper Bann & Blackwater.
But former SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell has criticised plans to do away with his constituency and vowed to fight them.
"I am stridently opposed to the proposal to do away with my constituency and plan to make this clear to the commission in the robust response we will be making after consulting with the party in South Belfast," he told The Irish News.
"I am not opposed to the overall spirit of the review and believe some tweaking is necessary in places, however, the wholesale wiping of South Belfast from the electoral map in my opinion is wrong."
Dr McDonnell said his focus was on continuing to work for the people of South Belfast and retaining his seat at the next Westminster election.
Another MP whose future at Westminster would be thrown into doubt were the Boundary Commission proposals accepted is Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott, who took the Fermanagh-South Tyrone seat from Sinn Féin last year by a narrow margin.
The expansion of the constituency northwards to include nationalist dominated wards lessens the chances of the former UUP leader holding the seat at the next Westminster election.
Mr Elliott said he did not think it was necessary to extend Fermanagh-South Tyrone.
"We expected minor changes from the Boundary Commission but these are major changes – I liken it to needing one or two floorboards replaced in your home and the builder instead choosing to put in a new floor," he said.
"There was just no need for this major surgery."
When asked if the new boundary would make retaining the seat more difficult, Mr Elliott said "it is never easy to win Fermanagh-South Tyrone".
The Ulster Unionist MP said it was unlikely that the commission's recommendations would be adopted in full.
Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey said his party opposed the Boundary Commission's proposals because they were based on "flawed methodology".
"We believe the changes should be based on census figures rather than the electoral register," said the West Belfast MLA.
"We also think Stormont should have responsibility for constituency boundaries."
Those wishing to respond to the Boundary Commission proposals can do so by letter, email or online via our website on or before November 28.
:: The commissions public hearings will take place in the Tullyglass hotel, Ballymena on October 5; Silverbirch hotel, Omagh on October 11; Ramada hotel, Shaw's Bridge, Belfast on October 20; and Seagoe hotel, Portadown on October 25. Each hearing will have three sessions running from 10am-1pm; 2pm-4pm; and 6pm-8pm.
