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Fifty MPs face abolition. That's one in 12, so at first sight it looks as if Cornwall might keep the six it has now.

But it also heralds an average eight per cent increase in the size of every UK constituency (except two in Scotland - Orkney & Shetland and the Western Isles.) So how can the Boundary Commission increase the size of all six Cornish constituencies without taking in some voters from Devon?

The choice appears to be between surrendering the "natural and historic" boundaries to the east of North Cornwall and South East Cornwall, or surrendering one of Cornwall's MPs.

The timing of all this is just eye-watering (especially if you work for the Boundary Commission.) The Commission has to undertake a root-and-branch reform of the entire UK (except two small parts of Scotland) before the end of 2013. That then leaves just 17 months before the next general election in May 2015.

Political parties may well have to select prospective Parliamentary candidates without knowing the constituencies they will be contesting.