Boundary change details revealed
Constituency proposals for Halton. Blue lines indicate existing boundaries and red lines show proposed ones
SEVERAL Runcorn new town neighbourhoods could become part of the Halton electoral constituency under proposals drawn up by the Boundary Commission For England (BCE).
Under the plans, Halton Lea ward, which comprises Palacefields, Hallwood Park and Halton Lodge would become part of Labour stronghold Halton, which at present encompasses Widnes, west Runcorn and Castlefields.
Other parts of east Runcorn would remain part of Weaver Vale, which would undergo a dramatic change in its boundary, losing its south east appendage between Winnington and Winsford, but gaining a large swathe of Cheshire to the south west, including Tarvin, Kelsall, Tarporley, Tattenhall and Farndon, which are at present part of Eddisbury constituency.
Weaver Vale was a closelyfought key marginal at the last election in 2015, with Conservative Graham Evans claiming victory by 806 votes over Labour’s Julia Tickridge.
The changes could cement the Tory party’s hold on Weaver Vale by losing the safe Labour ward, Halton Lea.
Constituents would instead stand to be represented by Labour’s Derek Twigg if he continues as MP in 2020.
Under the BCE proposals, the number of constituencies would be cut from 650 to 600 with the stated aim of ensuring equal numbers of voters within a range of 71,031 and 78,507 electors.
Consultation is under way with the BCE obliged to present its final proposals to Parliament in 2018 for adoption in the 2020 General Election.
Only 68 of the existing 533 English constituencies would rema in unchanged.
Voters have until December 5 to give their views and two further rounds of consultation will take place in 2017.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised the proposals as creat- much ing safe seats ‘where votes don’t count’.
Walton Labour MP and metro mayor contender Steve Rotheram claimed that the changes were ‘gerrymandering’ and would hit working class voters.
Labour’s shadow minister without portfolio Jon Ashworth slated the proposals as ‘unfair, undemocratic and unacceptable’.
He said they were based on an out-of-date version of the electoral register from December that did not include two million voters who had registered before the EU referendum.
He said: “Constitutional changes should be done fairly and consensually, to ensure that everyone given a voice.
“There is nothing fair about redrawing boundaries with millions left out, and reducing the number of elected MPs while the unelected House Of Lords continues to grow.”
Sam Hartley, BCE secretary, said: “Today’s proposals mark the first time people get to see what the new map of parliamentary constituencies might look like.
“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.
“Parliament has set us tight rules about reducing the number of constituencies, and making them of more equal size, and we now need the views of people around the country to help us shape constituencies that best reflect local areas.”
To view the plans and comment, visit www.bce2018.org.uk