And since Labour is expected to win the lion's share of constituency seats, it will not qualify for many top-up seats under the new system.

ECONOMIST: Labour in Wales

He said that the number of well-wishers who turned up outside the church in the prime minister's Co Durham constituency showed the ceremony was something people "wanted to share".

BBC: Blair's photo complaint defended

Some Lib Dems hint their party will not support the ongoing review of Commons constituency boundaries, which should give the Conservatives a greater share of seats, if they do not get their way.

ECONOMIST: Electing the Lords

Under the new law on constituency sizes, the Boundary Commission says Cornwall will inevitably have to share an MP with Devon in some form.

BBC: Boundary changes could impact Cornwall-Devon border

Under the new regional list system used for the Euro-elections, a party's haul of seats depends on its overall share of the vote rather than on whether it came first in a particular constituency.

ECONOMIST: The victor spurned