DECISION DAY on controversial proposals to link Wirral with parts of Liverpool in a Parliamentary boundaries shake-up could be delayed until mid-June.

The report of QC Colin Reese - appointed by the Boundary Commission to investigate opposition to the intensely provocative recommendation to merge Wallasey with the cross-river wards of Kirkdale and Everton - was due to be released at the beginning of May.

Now the publication could be delayed until mid-June if, as pundits expect, a General Election is called in May.

A public inquiry into the proposals was held last October when a protest petition signed by more than 10,000 Wirral people was lodged.

The story was exclusively revealed in the Globe, and more than 4,000 readers phoned our 'You the Jury' voteline to register their protest - over 95% were against the plan.

Boundary commission secretary Robert Farrance said: "The decision was expected to be announced in early May but if a general election is held then the decision will be delayed.

"A political convention was established in 2001 that the commission will not publish recommendations six-weeks either side of a general election.

"It was decided by the commission and agreed upon by all of the political parties. If the election goes ahead as people expect then mid-June would be a reasonable date to expect the publication of the commission's findings."

When the commission meet they will decide whether to adopt Mr Reese's recommendations, stick with the original merger plan, or create new proposals. The Commission decision will be final.

The Boundary Commission team comprises House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin, High Court Judge Sir Jeremy Sullivan, Home Secretary-appointed QC Michael Lewer and civil servant Robin Gray.

The re-designation of boundaries began after Boundary Commission research revealed that no constituency in Wirral was anywhere near the standard parliamentary quota of 69,934 voters.

Based on the quota Merseyside is entitled to 15 constituencies - a reduction of one.

Commission findings indicated that if Wirral were to keep four constituencies it would be well under quota and the remaining seats in Merseyside would be over quota.