Moray MP Douglas Ross says the latest boundary proposals for new constituencies are “still completely wrong” for the area.
Douglas’ reaction comes after the Boundary Commission for Scotland published revised proposals for constituencies that will be used across the country for the next General Election.
The latest plans would still see the current Moray constituency carved up into two separate seats, of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East and Nairn, Strathspey and Moray West.
Douglas already made his strong opposition known to the previous plans which would have seen Moray split up into three different constituencies. He was the only local elected representative to attend a Boundary Commission hearing in Inverness to voice his concerns.
Douglas says he will continue to fight these plans as hard as possible and that they would be completely unacceptable for local constituents, communities and local services moving forward if they are enacted.
He added that the proposals to link up with areas such as Aberdeenshire and communities in the Highlands would dilute Moray’s identity and that Moray should continue to be represented by a single MP.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “These latest proposals from the Boundary Commission are still completely wrong for Moray. They would carve up the Moray seat into two different constituencies and completely dilute Moray’s identity.
“Even though I have announced I will be standing down at the next General Election as an MP, I will continue to fight these proposals as hard as possible. The current seat works well for our communities who know they are represented by a single MP covering exactly the same area as the local council.
“It works well for co-ordinating efforts with a single local authority. These proposals would mean authorities in Moray would be linking up with Aberdeenshire and Highland and I have real concern about what that would ultimately mean for the delivery of public services in Moray.
“These changes simply do not address the concerns raised by myself and others to previous proposals.
"The Boundary Commission appear hellbent on ensuring that Moray will no longer be a single seat and that would represent a significant loss of local historic links.
“It has been a huge honour to represent the area I have lived and worked all my life as its MP and I want that opportunity to remain for future MPs in Moray. I’ll be making further representations to the Boundary Commission and urge others to do so by Monday 5 December.”