BOUNDARY changes which could see Guiseley and Rawdon become part of a revised Shipley constituency are being slammed as undemocratic.

The area's Labour Party is writing to the Boundary Commission objecting to the proposal which would see their areas moved from the Leeds based Pudsey constituency and into a Bradford based Shipley constituency.

David Bowe, Guiseley and Rawdon Labour Party Branch secretary, accused the Conservatives of using old data and of ignoring the two million new voters who registered following the Local Government and Euro-election campaigns this year.

"Members feel strongly that these proposals are undemocratic and unfair", he said.

He added: "This exercise is not what’s best for our country; it’s about what is best for the Tories."

The local Labour Party says the proposed loss of Pudsey Constituency and the transfer of Guiseley and Rawdon ward into Shipley presents problems of communications between Parliamentary and Local Government levels of administration. The group is now calling on the Prime Minister to rethink the review.

Pudsey Conservative MP Stuart Andrew said the Boundary Review was about an independent body equalising the seats in Parliament. "We have not had a boundary review for years, and with significant issues like our exit from the EU meaning people are becoming more engaged in politics, it is more important than ever that MPs are able to regularly engage with their constituents." he said.

"This is a lot easier to do in the Labour seat of Aberavon, where there are just over 51,000 voters, compared to the 70,000 across Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough.

"I do agree with them that Guiseley and Rawdon should be Leeds facing, but the entire point of these proposals is that they are open to consultation. I would suggest the Party make their representations in the appropriate way, through the public hearings and consultation, rather than mud-slinging. The local Conservative Party will be using the proper channels and providing a counter-proposal, and as is often the case with these things, the proposals could look completely different.

Guiseley and Rawdon Conservative councillor Graham Latty stressed: "The Boundary Commission is a totally independent body, not part of the government, which is looking at new boundaries at the suggestion of the government. They have been asked by the government to find a way of reducing the number of MP's by 50 and producing constituencies with electorates of approximately 75000. This would produce a level playing field where every MP represents roughly the same number of electors. Any findings are theirs and theirs alone and they are open for us all to comment on and to offer our own alternatives."

He added: "Like the local Labour Party, we Conservatives are far from happy that we face being exported to Shipley and losing our excellent MP Stuart Andrew. Like labour we will not only be questioning the Commission's findings; for example how could you say that this proposal for our Ward 'reflects the local area', but offering suggestions of our own as to how the boundaries might be revised, as will the Conservative Party nationally."