“Still, I think the name Londonderry should be kept on there somewhere.”

So the boundary commission’s proposals are going down badly with Unionists. Hardly surprising since as Nicholas Whyte notes, the changes are likely to have a negative impact on both UU seats in Fermanagh South Tyrone and South Antrim.  North West Belfast looks vulnerable for the DUP.

In a reshuffle that in many ways harks after old county boundaries the one that most resembles old County Londonderry is to be given an odd name change, Glenshane, in the process abolishing Londonderry and making it more vulnerable to a Sinn Fein push.

As one Welsh Twitter companion wondered the day it was delivered, did Sinn Fein write this report. Adrian McQuillan, MLA noted only:

“I think it’s a bit ridiculous. It’s just another way of getting rid of the name Londonderry. “I’m not too concerned at this minute in time because I just know there’s a lot of consultation to be done yet… “Still, I think the name Londonderry should be kept on there somewhere.”

The good burghers of rural South Co Derry are sure to disagree…

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty