Don’t tear us apart — Meacher

LOCAL MP Michael Meacher has slated plans to “tear apart” Oldham as part of changes to parliamentary boundaries.

The Oldham West and Royton MP hit out at proposed changes when he presented his case to commissioners from the independent Boundary Commission at a meeting in Manchester today.

He’s opposing plans that would see the Oldham West and Royton constituency scrapped and the wards represented by MPs in Middleton, Rochdale and Tameside.

He said: “The proposals from the Boundary Commission are devastating for Oldham, they would place 90,000 Oldham voters in constituencies outside the borough.

“I feel this is an insult to the people of Oldham and could have a divisive effect on its people and their representation in Parliament.”

Mr Meacher said the proposals would break community ties. He added that having more than 161,000 registered voters in the borough justifies two Oldham constituencies.