Maidstone is being downgraded yet again.

That is the view of one County Town resident who is unhappy about the changes suggested for the MPs' constituency boundaries – and their names.

The Boundary Commission for England is currently engaged in re-drawing the political constituencies across the country in an attempt to even up the number of voters in each.

The overall number of MPs will remain the same at 650, but actually Kent is to get one extra – 18 instead of 17 – because or our burgeoning population.

Geoff Harvey, of Sutton Road, Maidstone, has been unhappy ever since the constituency of Faversham and Mid Kent was created in 1979.

He said: "I live one mile from Maidstone town centre, but apparently I'm in Faversham!"

Mr Harvey says there has been real-life consequences. He said: "I heard Helen Whately being interviewed on the BBC just the other day. She was asked 'What do your voters in Faversham think about it?' That don't realise that the vast majority of her voters are in Maidstone."

He said: "Maidstone has two MPs, but only one – Helen Grant (the MP for Maidstone and the Weald) is ever asked about Maidstone matters."

But now the situation is to get even worse.

The Commission is proposing from 2023 the voters in Maidstone will be split across three constituencies.

One including, the Maidstone villages in the south of the borough, will become simply Weald.

A second will be called Maidstone and Malling, and as the name suggests take in parts currently under Tonbridge and Malling council.

The third will remain as Faversham and Mid Kent.

Mr Harvey has calculated that only 40% of Maidstone's residents will be in the Maidstone and Malling constituency, but 34% will come under Faversham and 26% under Weald.

He said: "This effectively means over half of Maidstone is disenfranchised."

He said that the commission should at least consider changing the names of the constituencies.

He said: "The Maidstone and Malling Constituency should be named Maidstone West and Malling (66% of its voters live in Maidstone).

And he said: "The Faversham and Mid Kent Constituency should be named Maidstone East and Swale (54% of its voters live in Maidstone)."

"While the Weald constituency should be Ashford West and Maidstone South (43% of its voters live in Maidstone)."

He added that for consistency's sake, the Ashford constituency would need to be re-named Ashford East.

Mr Harvey said: "That would make it clear to the media and everyone else that Maidstone has three MPs!"

Mr Harvey is not hopeful that his suggestion will be accepted by the commission. He said: "I already made the same point at an earlier round of consultation and I was just ignored."

Information on how to respond to the consultation can be found here.

Helen Grant said: "These are matters for the Boundary Commission and it still remains to be seen how the final proposals will look.

"Mr Harvey has until December 5 to make his points in the public consultation.

"That being said, I do recognise the importance that many people place on the sense of belonging and affinity with their location in both name and geography, and this is something I believe the commission do try to take into account during their work.

"Once the boundaries are finalised, and if I am returned at the next election, I will continue to serve my constituents to the best of my ability wherever the boundaries fall."

Helen Whately said: "The name Faversham and Mid Kent long predates me, but Mr Harvey’s right that people sometimes forget that I represent part of Maidstone. I certainly haven’t forgotten and am very proud to represent the town.

"Having two MPs is a good thing though. Helen Grant and I often work together on things like our local Apprenticeship Fair, the cost of living support group, and our upcoming rural crime meeting – as well as campaigning for Maidstone Hospital. It actually gives Maidstone a louder voice."