Campaigners from across the political spectrum, councillors and MPs, representatives of community and cultural groups, are working together to secure the status of Cornwall as a distinct area for parliamentary seats and to oppose the creation of Devonwall constituencies.

The Keep Cornwall Whole group has been set up as a direct response to the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill, which is presently going through Parliament.

The Bill seeks to legislate for a referendum on the Alternative Vote system and to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600. It also wants all constituencies to be within 5 per cent of the average constituency size. If the Bill is left unaltered, this would mean that Cornwall would have at least one cross-border seat with Devon.

Keep Cornwall Whole has sent a submission to the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee and also written to all 650 MPs, in advance of the Second Reading of the Bill. The letter calls on them to seek changes to the Bill, which would protect the historic integrity of Cornwall.

The letter states: "The Bill, if unaltered, would mean that Cornwall would inevitably have at least one cross-border seat with Devon, despite its exceptionally distinct Celtic history and culture, unique geography as a peninsula bounded by the Tamar River, special constitutional position, and a specific economic profile that merits EU Convergence Funding. This is something that doesn't work for either Cornwall or Devon."

The submission and letter have been sent by the Convenor of Keep Cornwall Whole, Councillor Adam Killeya, the Mayor of Saltash, with the support of Councillor Doris Ansari, Leader of Liberal Democrat Group on Cornwall Council, Councillor Mike Clayton, Deputy Leader of Independent Group on Cornwall Council, Councillor Dick Cole, Leader of Mebyon Kernow and MK Group on Cornwall Council, Councillor Roger Creagh-Osborne, Spokesman for the Cornish Green Party, Councillor Alec Robertson, Leader of Cornwall Council and Conservative Group on Cornwall Council, and Jude Robinson, Chairman of the Cornwall Labour Party.

Dick Cole said: "We must protect the integrity of Cornwall and I appeal to everyone to stand up and fight for the boundaries of Cornwall to be respected. This is not a battle we can afford to lose. Please find the time to write to Nick Clegg (The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA) and make them aware of the strength of feeling in Cornwall on this issue."

For more details, visit www.keepcornwallwhole.org.