The Boundary Commission has published its proposals for the big upheaval in constituency boundaries – so that the total number of MPs may be reduced to 600 – and its consultation period is drawing to a close.

As a member of the public I tried to participate in the process. However, the Boundary Commission has set a trap: once you begin to complete the online form, a secret clock is started.

They do not inform the user that this is so, and neither do they inform the user that the form, and all its comments and statistics, must then be completed within a secret time limit.

So I gathered my arguments, and collected the supporting demographic statistics in separate documents, unaware I was in a race against time. I was called away to answer my door.

Upon return I tried to submit my thoughtfully-argued comments, opposing some of the changes in Oxford, only to be faced with rejection: I had been secretly timed out!

Not only that, but all my comment fields, and other completed sections had been deleted.

I had not only wasted all my time, but I had lost all my previous input! Why?

So when the Boundary Commission publish the results of their consultation, will you believe them?

Is it simply too difficult, these days, to get competent people in important positions?

KEITH DANCEY St Peter’s Road, Wolvercote