The Huntingdon parliamentary constituency could be renamed under plans being considered by the Boundary Commission for England.

In a round of consultation held last year, the commission said it received “a large number of representations” from people who wanted to see St Neots given recognition as the largest town in Huntingdonshire.

Among those who responded to the consultation was St Neots councillor Barry Chapman, who said it was “absurd” to simply continue calling the constituency Huntingdon.

Cllr Chapman called for the seat to be renamed St Neots and Huntingdon, in recognition of the former’s larger population.

In response, the commission acknowledged the strength of feeling around the issue and proposed to rename the seat, which is held by Jonathan Djanogly, Huntingdon and St Neots.

In a report published this week, the commission said the proposed name “continues to reflect the historical town of Huntingdon, while incorporating the newly-expanded town of St Neots”.

Responding to the proposal, Mr Djanogly said: “I welcome the sensible proposal to rename the Huntingdon constituency Huntingdon and St Neots as this new name would recognise the status and importance of St Neots as the largest town in Cambridgeshire whilst also retaining the historic links to the Huntingdon constituency.”

In a significant shakeup for the area, The Offords, Great Paxton, Abbotsley, Waresley, Toseland, Yelling, and Great Gransden could also move from Mr Djanogly’s constituency and pass to Heidi Allen as part of the South Cambridgeshire constituency.

Parliament wants to reduce the number of constituencies in the UK from 650 to 600 and will reconfigure some boundary lines to ensure the number of electors in each constituency is more equal.

The plans are also aimed at ensuring that the number of voters in each constituency is equal. The Boundary Commission for England has been tasked with making independent recommendations about where the changes in the East of England should be.

An initial 12-week consultation was held in the autumn last year, giving the public the first chance to view and comment on the plans, followed by a second consultation in the spring of this year. More than 25,000 public responses were received across the country.

People can go to the Commission’s website, www.bce2018.org.uk, to view the latest plans.

The next, and final round of consultations, ends on December 11. The final recommendations will be submitted to parliament in September 2018.