³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Nick Clegg yesterday gave the first clues about what we might expect in his Parliamentary Reform Bill, which I think will be published in the next few weeks. Of particular interest to Cornwall is what it will mean for both the number of MPs (probably five rather than six) and where their constituencies will be (er, in Devon?)

Mr Clegg said the approach to making constituencies the same size had to be consistent. The current imbalance in the size of the electorate in different constituencies could not be defended because it resulted in "the ultimate postcode lottery, where the weight of your vote depends on where you live."

So will Cornwall have to share an MP with Devon? Not necessarily. We still don't know. "There will be no rigid mathematical formula," said Mr Clegg.

As ever, the ability to hold simultaneously contradictory positions is the hallmark of a true politician. No wonder the Boundary Commission sounds so nervous about this issue. As one civil servant put it: "If it was easy, we'd have done it years ago."