Corbyn block on seat changes ‘is affront to our democracy’

JEREMY Corbyn was accused of ‘ political opportunism’ last night amid fears he will block sweeping reforms to the electoral system.

Cabinet Office minister Chris Skidmore said the existing electoral boundaries are ‘ an affront to democracy’ because many people live in seats with disproportionately large numbers of voters.

Analysis suggests up to 27million live in such constituencies and that a majority are in Conservative voting areas – leading to claims the system is biased against the Tories.

Plans have been drawn up by ministers and the Boundary Commission to reshape the map of constituencies, with the total number of MPs cut from 650 to 600.

Under the proposals, the size of an average Parliamentary constituency would be equalised for both Labour and the Conservatives at around 75,000. But Labour has said the reforms would adversely affect the party and has vowed to oppose them. It has sought a fresh boundary review while seeking to maintain the size of the Commons at 650 MPs.

Mr Skidmore said: ‘Jeremy Corbyn’s political opportunism in opposing the most recent Boundary Review is gerrymandering by any other name, and threatens to taint any election result without such democratic reforms.’ He said that because mainland constituencies vary from having just 41,000 people on the electoral roll to as many as 93,000, some MPs are ‘twice the value’ of others.

He said Labour is seeking to ‘disenfranchise’ people in seats with large numbers registered to vote. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Skidmore said: ‘Without a review, the constituencies that would be contested at the next election would be based on electorate data from 2000. This would be the most out-of-date in modern political history, disregarding changes in demographics, house building and migration.

‘If Britain’s political geography changes, then the constituencies of the House of Commons need to change too.’

He said if action is not taken, ‘future generations will find it hard to understand how we... found it acceptable to allow the status quo to continue.’

A Labour spokesman said: ‘Everyone agrees a boundary review is needed, and Labour stands ready to work with other parties to ensure it goes ahead in a way that benefits our democracy and not just the Conservative Party.

‘Labour supports a review which will benefit our democracy and representation of all communities, based on the most up to date register, but the Tories only seem interested in their own political advantage.’ The DUP has also attacked the plans which are expected to see the party lose out.

If approved, the changes would be unlikely to come into effect in time for a general election before 2020.