Shocked constituency MSP Mary Mulligan heard the proposal at the Boundary Commission's public review of Scottish parliamentary areas.

The commission tries to ensure that all constituencies are of even size – which sometimes mean communities being switched from their traditional grouping, and added into a new constituency.

Fauldhouse and Whitburn were thought to be the only West Lothian areas likely to be affected in the review, with them being rezoned to Lanarkshire, but Mrs Mulligan says a Tory proposal suggested moving Linlithgow.

She said: ''I have represented Linlithgow for nine years and I don't want to lose that, it is a very positive part of the constituency. The constituency is quite diverse, but that is the beauty of it.

''I was already unhappy that there were no hearings being held in West Lothian and people were having to go to Lanark or Airdrie to make their feelings known.

''But I don't think many people will have realised Linlithgow might be affected. Linlithgow was the county town, why would you not want to keep it part of West Lothian?''

Many organisations and individuals have put forward suggestions on which comm-unities should be retained or split during the review. West Lothian Council wants to keep all its local communities together in the one seat, but the written proposal from the Conservative Party suggested Linlithgow be merged with a new South Falkirk seat, in a similar grouping to the Westminster parliamentary con-stituency, as one of its many suggestions to the inquiry.

The boundary commission hearing is open to anyone to put forward suggestions of how best to split the constituencies.

The sheriff principal will consider every approach, and make a written report to the commission. Whatever the decision, this review will not affect the council boundaries.

Mrs Mulligan is urging local constituents to make their own views known, by contacting the Boundary Commission.

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