DISTRICT MPs from across the political divide have urged the Government to abandon controversial plans to redraw constituency boundaries.

They spoke out as the Boundary Commission published its latest money-saving proposals to cut the number of MPs in Parliament from 650 to 600.

Under the scheme, the current Keighley constituency would be extended to take in Wharfedale ward, which is presently within Shipley.

Meanwhile, Shipley would also lose the Bingley Rural ward – to Bradford North – but would take on Idle as well as Leeds Council’s Guiseley and Rawdon ward.

Shipley's Tory MP, Philip Davies, blasted the proposals as “completely ridiculous”.

“Thankfully they are obviously not going to go through," he added.

"There is no chance of any of this going through, and anyway, looking at what they have proposed, thank goodness for that.

"It’s a complete and utter waste of money and the sooner the Government puts these boundary changes out of their misery, the better for all concerned.”

Keighley Labour MP John Grogan said that with the Democratic Unionists opposing the plans, it would only take a handful of “unhappy Conservative backbenchers like Philip Davies” to scupper the project.

He urged the Government to call a halt to the idea.

"If it isn’t going anywhere, it is a waste of public money to pursue it," he said.

Under the latest plans, the seats of Bradford East and Bradford West would both be scrapped altogether.

A public consultation into the proposals will run until December 11, with the matter then due to go before Parliament next year.