A PUBLIC inquiry into plans to move nearly 9,000 East Lothian voters into a new ward for future Scottish Parliament elections is expected to be held after councillors described the move as "nonsensical".

The Boundary Commission for Scotland wants to move people living in Prestonpans and parts of east Edinburgh into a new Midlothian North and Musselburgh constituency to try to reduce the number of voters in the current East Lothian seat.

However, the move has been described as "madness", as councillors covering the Preston Seton Gosford ward said that they could end up having to deal with 16 MSPs on a daily basis, due to the fact that the council ward would be split at Holyrood level between not only two constituencies but also two electoral regions.

Councillor Neil Gilbert, ward member, told a meeting of East Lothian Council that the new seat was not sensible.

He said: “It makes no sense to me.

“This would be the only constituency in Scotland covering three local authorities and, in doing so, myself and fellow ward councillors would have the potential to have to deal with 16 MSPs.

“I think that is enough to say it is not really sensible.”

READ MORE: East Lothian may 'lose' Prestonpans in Holyrood constituency shake-up

The meeting was told that the move was designed to reduce the number of eligible voters in East Lothian from over 67,000 people closer to the average number of 59,902 – which is the quota for mainland constituencies.

It would see the current Midlothian North and Musselburgh seat – which has already included Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig since its formation in 2011 – expanded down the coast to Prestonpans and upwards to include Joppa and Portobello.

Councillors were told that local authorities had the right to call for an inquiry as part of the consultation process.

They voted unanimously to call for the inquiry and lodge their objections with the Boundary Commission.

Councillor Brooke Ritchie, Preston Seton Gosford ward member, said: “This is a proposed boundary change that makes very little sense.

“It could be really devastating for our communities, towns and the wider council area. It seems to be an ill-thought-out proposal and I would welcome a local inquiry.”

And Councillor Lachlan Bruce, also a ward member, said: “It seems ill-thought-out and ill-considered. They have not even changed the name of the new constituency from Midlothian North and Musselburgh, not reflecting you are adding in Portobello and Prestonpans.

“I think East Lothian would make up the biggest of the three chunks involved.”

Mr Bruce pointed out that the Boundary Commission had taken no account of the growing housing plans in Wallyford, which would have residents in two different constituencies under the plans.

He said: “That just strikes me as madness. There must be a better way of achieving this.”

Councillors agreed to lodge their objections as part of an ongoing four-week public consultation and request a local inquiry be held into the decision in order to give the council the chance to state its case for a different approach.

Results of the consultation will determine a final decision made by Boundaries Scotland, which will be submitted to Scottish Ministers by May 1, 2025.

If approved, the new boundaries would be effective at the next Scottish Parliament election in May 2026.

At the last Scottish Parliament elections, Paul McLennan (SNP) won the East Lothian seat with a majority of 1,179 from Martin Whitfield (Lab).

In Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie (SNP) won with a majority of 7,906 over Stephen Curran (Lab).