THE Ochil and South Perthshire constituency will be split in two, should proposals from the Boundary Commission be approved.

Controversial plans from the public body will reduce the number of Scottish representatives at Westminster from 59 to 53.

As a result, the electoral map of Scotland is to be re-drawn for the second time in recent memory.

Clacks voters currently reside in the Ochil and South Perthshire seat, which was won by the SNP's Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh last year.

In addition to the Wee County, the constituency encompasses areas of the Perth and Kinross council area, such as Crieff and Auchertarder.

However, the Boundary Commission have suggested merging Clacks with parts of Stirling, with those southern Perth towns being amalgamated with Cowdenbeath in Fife.

If the proposals are voted through, a new Clackmannanshire and Stirling North constituency will be created, stretching from Muckhart all the way to Killin, Tyndrum and Crianlarich in the Trossachs.

There are wholesale changes being put forth for all areas of Scotland, as well as the UK.

Legislation from Westminster has dictated a reduction in the total number of UK MPs from 650 to 600.

Scotland will lose six, while England will lose 32, with Northern Ireland losing a single seat. The remaining 11 are to be lost in Wales, which loses more than 25 per cent of its MPs.

All constituencies will also have to fit size and population criteria, between around 71,000-78,500 electors.

A number of SNP MPs have expressed their outrage at the commission's report, at a time when the House of Lords is expanding.

Angus Robertson, the party's Westminster leader said it was "outrageous and undemocratic that the UK government is planning to cut the number of Scottish MPs while it continues to pack the unelected and unaccountable House of Lords...".

He added: "Under this government the already bloated House of Lords has grown to over 800 members and is now the second largest legislature in the world – second only to the National People's Congress of China – costing the Scottish taxpayer millions every year and making a mockery of the Tory claim that reducing the number of Scottish MPs is an attempt to cut the cost of politics."

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh echoed Mr Robertson's remarks and said: “I think it’s the entirely wrong that we should cut the number of MPs from Scotland while increasing the number of unelected members of the House of Lords.

“Notwithstanding these proposals, my first priority remains to do my best to represent the interests of my constituents in Ochil and South Perthshire who have given me the honour to represent them in parliament."

Stirling MP Steven Paterson added: “Plans to cut the number of MPs Scotland elects from 59 to 53 only serves to deepen the democratic deficit between Scotland and the rest of the UK. It is vitally important that Scotland has strong elected representation at Westminster to hold the UK Government to account.

“This proposal seeks to reduce the number of democratically-elected MPs whilst packing the already bloated House of Lords with many more unelected peers, speaking volumes of the Tory attitude to democracy and completely flies in the face of any claim that these changes are to be implemented with the aim of cutting the cost of politics.”

Chris Skidmore, the UK Government's constitution minister, said: “The independent Boundary Commission for Scotland is proposing measures to achieve equal-sized constituencies that will ensure an equal say for each voter.

“At the same time it’s important to take this opportunity to cut the cost of politics, saving £66million over the course of a parliament by reducing the number of MPs.”

The current proposals from the Boundary Commission remain in the consultation stage until early in the New Year.

Members of the public are encouraged to express their views online, by visiting bcs2018.org.uk