Meacher’s seat could be safe

PROPOSED boundary changes which would wipe the Parliamentary constituency of Oldham East and Royton off the political map are likely to be dropped, saving Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher’s seat.

Liberal Democrat MPs are expected to block Conservative plans to redraw parliamentary boundaries after Tories derailed reform of the House of Lords.

The Boundary Commission’s plans to trim the number of MPs from 650 to 600 for the 2015 general election would have left just one seat with the name “Oldham” — Oldham and Saddleworth, taking in over three-quarters of Debbie Abrahams’ seat and part of Michael Meacher’s Oldham West and Royton seat.

The remaining 75 per cent of Oldham West and Royton was to be split among three of the newly-drawn constituencies. Mr Meacher has made no secret of the fact he wants to stand again at the next election.

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