The Boundary Commission is changing the number of parliamentary seats in the UK, and while England will get 10 more, there will be fewer in both Scotland and Wales.
The latest proposals for a major shake-up of parliamentary constituencies across the UK have been unveiled.
Ten more seats would be created in England – taking the total number of MPs from 533 to 543.
Wales would lose eight seats, going down to 32 MPs – with two seats removed in Scotland to leave 57 MPs.
Northern Ireland would continue to have 18 constituencies.
Sir Gavin Williamson – an embattled Cabinet Office minister facing bullying allegations – could be a casualty of the changes in the next general election.
His Staffordshire constituency is in danger of being carved up, meaning he could face a struggle for reselection.
The shake-up could also affect Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, potentially putting his future as an MP in jeopardy.
Despite this, Conservative peer Lord Hayward has said that – unless there is an “utter wipeout” for the Tories at the next election – this party would be the main beneficiary of the changes.
“Broadly the Tories will gain five to ten seats net because the new seats are in overwhelmingly Tory areas,” he added.
This is the third time that the Boundary Commission has revised its proposals – and voters are now being urged to give their views by 5 December.
The changes try to ensure each seat contested by MPs at elections represents around the same number of voters – no fewer than 69,724 and no more than 77,062.
The total number of MPs will stay the same at 650.
Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said the maps were “the culmination of months of analysis” and that nearly half of the initial proposals had been revised because of feedback from the public.
“We now believe we are close to the best map of constituencies that can be achieved under the rules we are working to,” he added.
Lord Matthews, deputy chair of the Boundary Commission for Scotland, also said it was “grateful” for the responses to previous consultations, adding: “We have considered all representations very carefully and, where possible, have tried to respond positively to suggestions.
“The legislative requirements of the review do mean we are not always able to incorporate alternatives and sometimes, of course, we receive conflicting views or suggestions with unintended consequences for other parts of Scotland.”
Once the consultation concludes, the commission’s final recommendations are expected to be handed to parliament in July.
Source: Skynews
