CONSTITUENCY BORDER CHANGES PLANNED
Cheadle would no longer be part of the Stone constituency in new political map
THOUSANDS of Staffordshire residents could soon be voting for different MPS – if plans to redraw the county’s political map go ahead.
The Boundary Commission for England has published its latest proposals for revamped parliamentary constituencies, which would see the number of MPS across the West Midlands being reduced from 59 to 57.
The Boundary Commission says the aim of the independent review is to ensure the number of electors in each seat is more even, but major revamps are proposed for Sir Bill Cash’s Stone and Cheadle seat.
Under the commission’s proposals, which are being put out to public consultation, Stoke-on-trent would retain its three seats – North, Central and South – although some wards would be moved into neighbouring constituencies.
Stoke-on-trent South would be expanded to include rural areas south of the city – Checkley and Forsbrook in the Staffordshire Moorlands, along with Barlaston, Fulford and Swynnerton and Oulton in Stafford Borough, all of which are currently part of the Stone constituency.
The Staffordshire Moorlands seat would be expanded to include the wards around Cheadle which are currently part of the Stone seat, meaning the constituency would be almost completely aligned with the borders of the district.
Moorlands MP Karen Bradley said: “The Boundary Commission’s initial proposals seem sensible, meaning for the first time for many years the three Moorlands towns of Leek, Biddulph and Cheadle will be represented by the same MP.
“The rules which the Commission have to work to mean that the District of Staffordshire Moorlands is too big to be one single constituency, so this seems to be a sensible compromise.
“This is only the first step and the proposals could be amended depending on representations made by those interested in the process. Any changes to the proposed Staffordshire Moorlands constituency would have inevitable implications for other constituencies in Staffordshire.”
The Stone seat would see the most radical changes under the Boundary Commission proposals, with the constituency essentially being abolished and replaced with a new Stone and Great Wyrley seat.
This would only retain the town of Stone and neighbouring Milwich ward from the existing Stone seat, with Milford and Haywood & Hixon being added from the current Stafford constituency.
The rest of Stone and Great Wyrley would be made up of parts of South Staffordshire.
The revised Stafford seat, meanwhile, would see the addition of Loggerheads, Maer and Whitmore.
Due to the southward expansion of the Stone seat, South Staffordshire would also be altered to include three Dudley wards, meaning a Staffordshire MP would also represent parts of the Black Country.
Sir Bill, who has represented the Stone constituency since 1997, said of the plans: “They are radical, there is no question.
“I have a 63 per cent majority at the moment, a very high percentage of the total votes.
“The bottom line is it would be an enormous wrench to lose places I’ve represented for so long.
“We don’t even know if these will take effect, it’s very much an initial proposal and I think people need to bear that in mind. It might not be what comes out of the discussions.
“What the consultation will produce and what the outcome will be I can’t guess.
“Other people’s views will be taken into account, this is very much an initial phase on the basis of a radical and very much unexpected chain of events.
“I’ve very much enjoyed being MP and had a great relationship with my constituents over the years.
“I’ve had a wonderful experience representing people in Stone since 1997. It’s been a very active constituent, to say the least, and I have been greatly supported by my constituents, who are very realistic and down to earth people.”
An eight-week consultation on the Boundary Commission’s initial proposals will run until August 2, with two further rounds of consultation planned for 2022.
The final recommendations are set to be presented to Parliament by July 2023. If agreed in time, the revised constituency boundaries would be used in the next general election, currently scheduled for May 2024.
Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Each constituency we recommend is required by law to contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, meaning there will be significant change to current boundaries. We want to hear the views of the public to ensure that we get the new boundaries for parliamentary constituencies right.”
Visit www.bcereviews.org.uk to view the proposals and have your say.