Trepidation and unease descends upon Westminster whenever the Parliamentary Boundary Commission publishes its proposals, as it did last week. The recommendations can, after all, make or break careers.

Although subject to three rounds of public consultation, new legislation last year means proposals on constituency boundaries no longer require parliamentary approval to be implemented, and paying no attention to voting patterns, election results or the prospective fortunes of political parties. From Prime Minister to backbencher, none are immune from having their seat culled or drastically altered.