The House of Commons could be about to get smaller.
Not literally, of course, as anyone who has visited the famous chamber will tell you how much tinier it is in real life compared with how it looks on TV.
I am referring to government proposals to reduce the number of MPs from the present total of 650 to less than 600. Fewer, larger constituencies would be created with roughly an equal number of voters living in each area.
The Conservatives have long since argued that the current electoral map of the UK does them no favours. Inner-city constituencies - where people are more likely to vote Labour - tend to have fewer voters. Suburban and rural constituencies - where the Tories poll much better - generally have a larger electorate. Or so the argument goes...
An example cited by the Conservatives is Louth and Horncastle, where Sir Peter Tapsell was re-elected recently having polled just over 25,000 votes. In contrast, Labour's Austin Mitchell was returned to parliament with the support of less than 11,000 voters in Great Grimsby.
The obvious concern for Austin Mitchell is that he could be removed from office without a single vote being cast, if his Great Grimsby constituency - which dates back to 1295 - is merged with nearby Cleethorpes.
Mr Mitchell also argues that fewer MPs will lead to a smaller talent pool from which the ruling party (or parties) can form a government.
The proposal to reduce the size of the Commons is likely to face widespread opposition, along with other political reforms to establish fixed-term, five-year parliaments and ensure 55% of MPs are needed to back dissolution of Parliament.
However, ministers say the main argument in favour of the reduction is that it would reduce the cost of politics, which in the current climate could prove popular outside the Westminster village.
Imagine having a front row seat for every major event in British politics for the past 50 years.
From the Profumo affair to the decision to go to war in Iraq - one man has witnessed first hand many of Westminster's great dramas from those famous green benches.
Sir Peter Tapsell is now officially known as Father of the House of Commons. It's a title given to the longest continuous serving member of parliament and previously held by former Prime Ministers such as Sir Winston Churchill, James Callaghan and Sir Edward Heath.
I phoned the Louth and Horncastle MP earlier this week to ask if he would be willing to appear as a guest on Look North. He said he was rather busy with the small matter of presiding over the election of the Speaker - which is one of the key roles of the Father of the House.
He did agree to be interviewed the following day.
Sir Peter was first elected in 1959 when Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister. He lost his seat in the 1964 general election, but returned to parliament in 1966 as the Conservative MP for Horncastle and has remained in the Commons for 46 years.
This week, David Cameron congratulated Sir Peter on his long service record.
Now aged 80, the veteran backbencher has served under 10 Prime Ministers, including the present occupant of 10 Downing Street.
With a huge number of rookie MPs in the new parliament, there is one familiar figure who could prove useful in offering some fatherly advice.
This week, the work really begins for our newly-elected Members of Parliament.
They'll be sworn-in and will sit on those famous green benches in the chamber of the House of Commons for the first time.
The new Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole, Andrew Percy, is a teacher. He admits going to Westminster is a bit like the first day at a new school and likens the Commons to a typical playground.
When I was at Westminster last week, I couldn't help smiling at the chaotic but good natured scenes of fresh-faced new members wandering aimlessly around the place, many clutching guides and maps like confused tourists on the streets of London.
With a record number of new MPs elected at the general election, the first week of the new parliament was bound to be a bit chaotic.
The Politics Show followed a group of new Yorkshire MPs as they arrived at Westminster for the first time.
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Can you name the TV theme tune in this clip?
So Alan Johnson has decided not to run for the leadership of the Labour Party and will support the hot favourite David Miliband.
I spoke to the Hull West and Hessle MP at Westminster today and he suggested it was time to pass on the baton of responsibility to the next generation.
Whether or not you agree with his views, Alan Johnson is one the great communicators in politics and one of the few front-bench figures who can truly relate to working class voters.
He denies having any regrets and told me: "I have held five cabinet posts and for a former postman from the slums of London - that's not bad".
One leading bookmaker is offering odds of 10/1 against Alan Johnson becoming the next leader of the Labour Party, making the Hull West and Hessle MP third favourite in the race to succeed Gordon Brown.
So if I were a betting man would I consider this a good bet?
The simple answer is no. The main reason being that the Home Secretary has given no indication that he is interested in the 'top job'.
Many political commentators believe he will support David Miliband's bid to become leader in a contest that is likely to pitch the 'Blairites' behind Mr Miliband and the 'Brownites' behind Gordon Brown's long time ally Ed Balls.
However, there is one factor that could count in Alan Johnson's favour. He is an enthusiastic advocate of proposals to change the voting system - a factor which looks like a deal-breaker for whichever party is to secure the support of the Liberal Democrats in Government.
So don't write-off AJ just yet. But the odds look stacked against this former postman delivering victory in a Labour leadership race.
It was smiles all round for the Conservatives in Lincolnshire as the party bagged every seat in the county.
Lincoln was a must-win target seat for the Tories and Karl McCartney took the constituency from health minister Gillian Merron - one of the original Blair Babes - who's represented the city in parliament since 1997.
There was success too for the Tories in Brigg and Goole. Labour's Ian Cawsey was defeated by Andrew Percy who secured a majority of more than 5,000.
It was the end of the road for Labour's Shona McIsaac after 13 years representing Cleethorpes. Martin Vickers picks up the baton for the Conservatives.
Labour veteran Austin Mitchell survived a big swing to the Conservatives in Great Grimsby, winning back his seat with a majority of just 714 votes.
Diana Johnson's majority in Hull North was slashed to three figures, but despite a late night recount, the Liberal Democrats failed to take the seat they'd been targeting.
As the candidates rip-off their rosettes and head for their beds, I can only reflect on a night of high drama across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
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It has been a frenetic last day of campaigning across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
The Conservative leader David Cameron has been in Grimsby. The Home Secretary Alan Johnson has been in the marginal constituency of Brigg and Goole. And the Liberal Democrats have been stepping up the fight to win their first MP in Hull.
It has been a fascinating campaign from my point of view. The past month has put a few extra miles on my car and worn away plenty of shoe leather on my loafers. But I feel privileged to have met so many interesting voters, each with their own personal reason for taking an interest in this election.
My Look North colleague Caroline Davies and I have covered all 17 constituencies across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. From Brigg and Goole to Boston and Grantham to Grimsby.
The campaign has given us both a real insight into the diverse region we cover and the numerous challenges many people will still face whichever party wins power.
One thing is certain. Election 2010 has rarely been dull.
May I wish you a happy polling day.
The Home Secretary Alan Johnson has thrown his weight behind Gordon Brown in the wake of an attack on the Prime Minister from Labour's candidate in North West Norfolk.
Mr Johnson described Manish Sood's comments that Mr Brown was the "worst PM we've ever had" as "a bit of light relief".
Earlier, Mr Sood had called Labour ministers "corrupt" and said the party had allowed immigration to get too high.
Speaking on BBC Look North, Alan Johnson said: "I've been talking to people throughout this campaign and there's an enormous amount of respect for Gordon Brown. He's not the kind of song and dance man that many people think modern politics is all about. He's a very serious, very dedicated, very principled politician".
I'm Tim Iredale, the BBC's Political Editor in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and presenter of the regional Politics Show. This is strictly a "no-spin" zone where the political viewpoint is more Humber Bridge than Westminster Bridge. Your comments and observations are more than welcome. 
