Allan Faulds runs the Ballot Box Scotland website, which tracks data from elections across the country 

AS part of the UK Government’s plan to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, Scotland’s 59 constituencies have been redrawn into 53 new areas. 

The Boundary Commission for Scotland, the impartial body tasked with carrying out boundary reviews, released its final proposals last week. It’s not clear whether Parliament will approve them.

The traditional county of Renfrewshire – what is now Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, and East Renfrewshire – is facing some dramatic changes.

READ MORE: Carved up like a Christmas turkey’ Renfrewshire politicians on boundary changes

At the moment it’s divided into four constituencies – Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and a North-South split in Renfrewshire. But with limits on how many voters can be in each area, such neat divisions couldn’t be preserved.

Centuries old boundaries will be broken if this is accepted. A new Clyde Coast constituency would see Bishopton and Langbank set adrift from the rest of Renfrewshire to join Inverclyde and part of North Ayrshire, right down to the Cumbraes.

Renfrewshire West and Garnock Valley sprawls from Erskine all the way out to Dalry in North Ayrshire – then comes back up to take in Neilston and Barrhead.

READ MORE: Erskine cat owner slams bus firm after much-loved pet meets tragic end

These proposals have blown apart long-standing county and modern council boundaries. 

Communities in Renfrewshire would be right to ask themselves, and their MPs, whether they should be welcoming yet another blow to local democratic representation.