The proportion of MPs in the pocket of the Prime Minister would be at record levels.

Slashing the number of MPs could result in an ’unprecedented power-grab’ by the government, and would lead to ‘most overbearing executive in living history’ campaigners have warned.

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) has found that if the number of Members of the House of Commons (MPs) is reduced from the current 650 to 600 as confirmed by the Prime Minister reently, a record-high 23 per cent of MPs – 139 out of that 600 – would be on the government payroll – unless there is a guaranteed cap on the size of the executive.