MPS James Morris and Margot James have welcomed new boundary proposals aimed at reducing the number of constituencies from 650 to 600.

The latest plans, drawn up by the Boundary Commission, beat the original proposals which were first published in September 2016 to ensure the number of electors in each constituency is equal.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP Mr Morris said he welcomes the fact the commission has “listened to local opinion and revised their plans”.

He said: “I am pleased that the commission are now proposing a minimal amount of change to the current boundaries of Halesowen and Rowley Regis, which no long includes a joint constituency with Birmingham.”

Cradley MP Ms James added: “I support the aims of the boundary review which seeks to introduce more consistent size of constituencies in terms of electorate.

“I am positive about the proposed changes, and I am particularly very pleased that the proposals maintain the entirety of the present Stourbridge constituency, since there was previously a threat that I might lose the Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood ward.”

Under the new plan, Ms James would inherit part of the Brierley Hill ward that was previously in Dudley South.

Dudley North Labour MP Ian Austin, however, has branded the latest proposal a “complete dog's breakfast” and he told the News: “Whoever designed this has clearly got no clue about the geography of the Black Country.”

Essentially the existing four constituencies that fall within Dudley borough would become three – Stourbridge, Dudley and Halesowen and Rowley Regis, with parts of the old Dudley North constituency falling to into the new Wolverhampton South and Coseley constituency.

Commission chiefs say in formulating the latest proposal they have reflected on all written comments received during two consultations, held last year and in spring this year, and Sam Hartley, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Based on what people have said to us, we have revised more than half of our initial proposals.

“The new map of the country is, we think, close to the best set of Parliamentary constituencies we can achieve, based on the rules to which we work and the evidence given to us by local citizens.

“But we still want people to tell us what they think of this latest map before we make our final recommendations to Parliament next year.”

People have until December 11 to have a final say on the latest proposals which can be viewed online at www.bce2018.org.uk.

Following this third and final consultation, Boundary Commissioners will consider the evidence submitted and make their final recommendations before submitting them to Parliament in September 2018.

If agreed by Parliament, the new constituencies will be in use at the next scheduled General Election in 2022.