CONSERVATIVE MP James Wharton has accused the Labour Party of wanting to amalgamate Yarm with Middlesbrough, in a letter to constituents.

The Stockton South MP also claimed “Labour wants to split Yarm and Eaglescliffe apart” in the letter, sent out at the beginning of this month.

He said he was “surprised” to see the party’s feedback to the Boundary Commission proposals over planned changes to the Parliamentary constituencies in the Teesside area, In a shake-up of constituencies which some Labour MPs have said is a gerrymandering exercise, the Boundary Commission has been tasked by the Government with altering constituencies across the country, in a move which would see 50 fewer MPs in Parliament.

A Labour Party spokesman said the boundary changes were “unnecessary and disruptive” and would result in a reduction of the region’s representation in Parliament.

He said: “They have brought forward these proposals for one simple reason and that is their own self interest in an attempt to increase their majority in Parliament.” He said the Labour Party had made proposals which it believed best respected community boundaries within the “constraints” of the legislation.

Under the plans, Yarm and Eaglescliffe would move from Stockton South to a new Stockton West constituency.

Mr Wharton claimed: “Labour wants to move Yarm into the neighbouring Middlesbrough West, Stockton East constituency, splitting it from Eaglescliffe which would remain with Stockton West. This strikes me as being purely party political. It seems Labour think their votes in Middlesbrough would outweigh their votes in Yarm, helping them to ensure the area has a Labour MP regardless of local views.”

He said Yarm and Eaglescliffe had “strong ties” to each other and should remain together.

He urged residents to write to the Boundary Commission before March 27.