Devonwall (possible UK Parliament constituency)

Devonwall is a neologism referring to a proposed UK Parliament constituency that would straddle the border between the counties of Devon and Cornwall in South West England. The name is a portmanteau of "Devon" and "Cornwall." The concept has been debated periodically during constituency boundary reviews, particularly due to the population sizes of existing constituencies on either side of the border and the electoral quota (average electorate size) for constituencies across the UK.

The primary impetus behind proposals for a Devonwall constituency stems from the historically smaller size of constituencies in Cornwall compared to Devon. Creating a constituency that crosses the Tamar River, the traditional boundary between the two counties, would help to even out electorate sizes and ensure fairer representation, according to proponents.

However, the idea of a Devonwall constituency is often controversial. Opposition typically arises from concerns about diluting Cornish identity and representation. Critics argue that Cornwall has a distinct cultural and political identity that should be reflected in its parliamentary representation and that a cross-border constituency would undermine this. There are concerns about voters in Cornwall being represented by an MP also responsible for constituents in Devon, potentially leading to a perceived neglect of local Cornish issues.

The Boundary Commission for England, which is responsible for reviewing parliamentary constituencies, has considered Devonwall proposals in the past but has ultimately not implemented them, often citing the strong local opposition. Whether a Devonwall constituency will be proposed or implemented in future boundary reviews remains a subject of ongoing debate and political consideration. The Boundary Commission is required to take into account factors such as local ties, geographic considerations, and existing administrative boundaries when drawing up constituency boundaries, meaning the final decision is based on a complex set of factors.