KIRKLEES will lose one of its MPs in a shake-up of the political map.

A public inquiry may be held into proposals, which are unlikely to come in until probably 2010 or 2011.

One major change put forward is to switch Denby Dale and Kirkburton from Wakefield to a constituency wholly within Kirklees.

They would be transferred to Dewsbury, the constituency where they were before the last review in 1995.

The plan by the Boundary Commission is to lower the number of MPs in the borough to four.

The proposals are designed to iron out differences in population numbers for each constituency.

Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood today backed a move to put Heckmondwike back in his constituency.

He said: "Reuniting it with the rest of the Spen Valley would be a welcome move."

A commission spokesman said the plans covered only Parliamentary constituencies.

They did not affect borough boundaries, council tax and local services. Also, there would be no change to postcodes.

The spokesman said there was no evidence that the plans had had an adverse effect on house prices or car and house insurance premiums.

He added that if a public inquiry into the plans was held all representations would be made public before it, so that interested people could prepare for the hearing.

Representations should be made to the Boundary Commission for England, PO Box 31060, London SW1V 2FF or faxed to 020 7533 5176.

People can also email their views to chris.ault@ons.gov.uk

Consultation on the plans is open until Friday, October 29.

BATLEY AND SPEN (75,443 electorate): Batley East, Batley West, Birstall and Birkenshaw, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Liversedge and Gomersal. Present MP: Mike Wood (Lab)

COLNE VALLEY (78,355): Colne Valley, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Golcar, Holme Valley North, Holme Valley South, Lindley. Present MP: Kali Mountford (Lab)

DEWSBURY (76,886): Denby Dale, Dewsbury East, Dewsbury South, Dewsbury West, Kirkburton, Mirfield. Present MP: Ann Taylor (Lab)

HUDDERSFIELD (66,275): Almondbury, Ashbrow, Dalton, Greenhead, Newsome. Present MP: Barry Sheerman (Lab)