Sinn Féin has said it will study proposals made by the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland and will resist any changes which distorts nationalist representation.
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Proposals for radically redrawing the boundaries of the majority of the North's Westminster constituencies were published today by the Boundary Commission.
Mid Ulster Assembly member Francie Molloy said: "Given the historic legacy of the Boundary Commission and its role in political gerrymandering we will be working to ensure that any proposed changes do not distort political representation.
"Sinn Féin will particularly resist and boundary changes that distort nationalist representation."
He said great care must be taken to ensure that changes that affect the democratic process do no discriminate against any section of society and do not disenfranchise the supporters of any political party.
While the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland decided the six counties should retain 18 seats in the House of Commons, 14 of them see substantial changes.
The Commission could have recommended reducing constituency numbers to 17 by abolishing the smallest, South Belfast, but decided against.
Instead it proposed the enlargement of the four Belfast seats - all below average size - by pushing their boundaries further out of the city, creating significant knock-on effects.
The ripple effect on the East Antrim constituency sees it pushed further north taking in some areas currently in North Antrim. It proposes changing the name to Antrim Coast and Glens.
As a result of the changes to Belfast East and Belfast South significant alterations to the boundary of the Strangford constituency are proposed under which it would take in areas of South Down.
South Down would lose Ballynahinch, Killyleagh, Saintfield and Crossgar to Strangford but gain parts of Newry from the neighbouring constituency of Newry and Mourne and Loughbrickland from Upper Bann.
Upper Bann would also lose Craigavon to the Lagan Valley constituency. The constituency known as East Londonderry would be given parts of the Foyle constituency.
No changes are proposed for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Mid Ulster , North Down and West Tyrone.
In making its proposed changes the Commission said it noted that current constituencies varied from 17% below to 16% above the average size. Under its scheme all would be within plus or minus 6.5% of the quota.
The constituencies also return six members each to the Northern Ireland Assembly and MP's and Assembly members will pour over the fine print to see how changes may affect the political make up.
Public inquiries are probable and it is unlikely the new boundaries will not be in place in time for the next General Election which has to take place by summer next year.
PA