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Boundary changes that would see Tories handed an advatage in upcoming elections are ‘dead in the water’

The plans were drawn up last year and due to be introduced next year.

Proposals would have seen the number of MPs cut from 650 to 600.

Labour feared the plans would hit them hard and provide an advantage to the Tories.

Research released last year showed 85 per cent of Labour seats would be affected and 30 could disappear.

Only between 10-15 Tory seats would have been affected as constituencies were redrawn.

But the lack of a clear majority for Theresa May at this month’s General Election means the plans are unlikely to pass Parliament.

A government source told us: “The boundary changes are dead in the water.

“There’s a lot of legislation that it’s going to be impossible to get through and this is one of them.”

The PM's negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party are also believed to have contributed to the plan’s failure.

Reorganisation in Northern Ireland would see the DUP lose three seats and Sinn Fein gain two.

Analysis by Electoral Calculus says the redrawing of the map would leave Sinn Fein with nine MPs to the DUP ’s seven.

(Image: Getty)

One senior Tory backbencher said: “It’s not just dead - it’s double dead.

“There’s no way the DUP would support a plan that is going to give Sinn Fein more power.

“It’s going to be like this from now on. Getting anything through is going to be tough.”

The DUP negotiations are due to finish next week.

But sources close to the talks say progress has been slow, as the DUP hold out for more cash.

In 2015, the party were in a position to negotiate with both Labour and the Conservatives.

And senior figure Ian Paisley Jr said: “We don’t want cabinet positions, we don’t want to be part of a formal government arrangement: we want a confidence and supply arrangement.”

At the time, Mr Paisley put an amount of up to £1bn extra cash for any deal.

Sources say that figure could be dwarfed this time.

One source close to the talks said: “In reality the DUP hold all the cards.

“They’re not in any hurry - despite the dates being set for the Queen’s Speech and the Brexit negotiations.

“And if cash is going to be the big sticking point then in reality they’re going to be able to ask for what they want.”