PROPOSALS being rushed through Parliament to equalise the size of Westminster constituencies including splitting the Isle of Wight in two risk a "chaotic" redrawing of boundaries without regard to local loyalties and historic ties, a new report has warned.

The changes - which demand an electorate in almost all seats within five per cent of 76,000 - will require regular, disruptive changes to the electoral map to keep up with population shifts, said the report by thinktank Democratic Audit.

Allowing more flexibility would prevent constituencies straddling county boundaries and stretches of sea, stop rural areas being grafted onto city seats and might even be more favourable to the Conservatives in electoral terms, said author Lewis Baston.

He said boundary commissioners should be given more leeway to make exceptions for island seats, rural areas and constituencies where the number of residents hugely outstrips the number of voters.

The report also called for boundary reviews to be held at ten-yearly intervals, rather than every five years as the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill plans, to reduce disruption.

The Government argues that the Bill will end the unfair distribution which currently sees the MP for the Isle of Wight elected by 103,480 voters, while the member for Arfon in north Wales answers to just 42,998.

To make the maths work under the Government's plans, one constituency would have to unite areas in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.

It has provoked a massive campaign called One Wight with the slogan One Island, One MP, Don't Divide the Island.

Members presented a 16,000 signature petition opposed the changes to 10 Downing Street in September.

Island MP Andrew Turner was among those who handed over the petition.

At the time Ian Ward, One Wight campaign co-ordinator, said: "Getting over 16,000 supporters in a few weeks has been challenging, but it demonstrates the high level of support we have found wherever we go.

"Some people say they want two MPs for the Island - that is a perfectly reasonable view, although all local political parties have accepted that is unlikely to be achievable - but very, very few people support the idea of a constituency split between the Island and the mainland."