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Theresa May’s allies are increasingly confident she can bring “back from the dead” a major review of parliamentary seats that would boost the Tories’ chances of winning the 2022 election.

The upheaval would see Jeremy Corbyn’s seat axed and the overall number of MPs slashed from 650 to 600.

It could also be the catalyst for Labour Left-wingers loyal to Mr Corbyn to carry out a purge of Blairites, because the boundary changes would trigger dozens of selection contests.

The changes were seen as dead in the water by some commentators last year when Mrs May lost her majority and had to rely on the DUP, which opposed the reforms. Draft proposals published last autumn suggested the DUP going down from 10 to seven MPs, while rivals Sinn Fein could have added three.

But ministers now think the independent Boundaries Commission will recommend a revised map for Northern Ireland in September, which would see the DUP keep all 10 MPs.

A minister told the Evening Standard: “It is certainly not dead now, I think the DUP will be on board. However, there are a good number of Conservatives who are worried about what the boundaries would mean for their own careers.”

Mrs May could promise peerages to Tory MPs who lose their seats in the changes. But senior Tories are said to be demanding deals “signed in blood” in case Mrs May loses the leadership or finds that she does not have enough space in the Upper House.

The new boundaries were designed to end an inbuilt bias towards Labour, whose inner-city heartlands tend to be smaller seats, giving Labour more MPs. In future, all seats will be roughly the same size.

A Tory source estimated the changes could net the Conservatives a boost of a dozen seats at the 2022 election, which is smaller than first thought.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North seat would be abolished. He may lay claim to a new seat, called Finsbury Park and Stoke Newington, taking territory from his old seat and Diane Abbott’s constituency. She could then battle against neighbouring Labour MP Meg Hillier for another new seat, Hackney Central. David Lammy, the Tottenham MP, successfully fought off draft plans to split his constituency.

The changes will cut the number of London MPs from 73 to 68 and must be backed by the Commons and Lords.