Mr Stephenson said: “I support the proposals for re-drawing the boundaries and reducing the number of MPs in principle, but I think the Boundary Commission’s proposals for Lancashire are a complete mess”.
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Commenting specifically on proposed constituency changes in Brighton and Hove, Caroline Lucas said: “While I strongly believe in equal constituency sizes – the proposals in this review for Brighton and Hove are plainly wrongheaded, and plans to reduce the number of MPs will damage, not enhance our democracy”.
For more reaction see Thursday’s Newbury Weekly News.
“Due to the small electorates of the neighbouring Brighton, Kemptown and Lewes constituencies, we propose a Brighton East and Newhaven constituency that contains seven wards from the existing Brighton, Kemptown constituency, three of which are City of Brighton and Hove wards, and four of which are District of Lewes wards”.
Meanwhile, suggestions that Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North seat could be scrapped brought a round of applause when the issue was raised by Maureen Lipman at tonight’s British Emunah dinner.
The proposals are good news for Formby – already subject to changes in recent years, recently coming into the Sefton Central Constituency – which will now no longer be split in hakf.
“The Commission are required to consider community links and its recommendations are based on local government authoroities and ward boundaries”.
The constituency of Heywood and Middleton would also disappear under the proposals and a new constituency called Prestwich and Middleton. This is constructed from five wards from the existing Bury South constituency, and five from the existing Heywood and Middleton.
The Hampstead Garden Suburb and Childs Hill wards would be included in another new constituency, Hampstead and Golders Green.
“Although Merseyside can be considered on its own in formulating a pattern of constituencies, after very careful consideration, we decided that the Southport constituency should not include the Harington ward, but extend across the Merseyside / Lancashire county boundary to include three wards from the Borough of South Ribble, namely North Meols, Hesketh-with-Becconsall, and Tarleton”.
This constituency retains eight wards from the existing Hartlepool constituency. Longridge and surrounding villages will be Aunt Sally on the edge of this vast new constituency.
A number of consultation events are being held across the region with the one in Manchester taking place on October 11 and 12 at the Midland Hotel.
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“But they are just the Commission’s initial thoughts – during the next 12 weeks we want people to take a look and tell us what they like and don’t like about our proposals”.
