Cambuslang voters fume: Why are we electing EK MP?
A group of Cambuslang voters are furious ahead of tomorrow’s General Election – as they will be helping to choose East Kilbride’s MP rather than Rutherglen’s.
A boundary mix-up means locals who live in the new estate on Greenlees Road, near Kirkhill Golf Club, are registered as part of the East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow constituency.
That means that despite living several miles away, their votes will go towards deciding whether or not the SNP’s Dr Lisa Cameron retains her seat. The land was zoned to East Kilbride years ago, long before Persimmon Homes built houses there.
Boundaries officials have now suggested the creation of Lanarkshire West, which would comprise Rutherglen, Cambuslang and Blantyre, replacing the current Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.
However, the snap election has come too soon for any changes to be approved.
Frustrated resident Douglas Fulton, who contacted the Reformer about the issue, said:“It feels like I am going to have no say on who the MP for my town will be.
“There’s miles between us and East Kilbride and everything I use is in the Rutherglen ward, so it is ridiculous I am stuck voting for someone in East Kilbride.
“The original decision was pretty stupid to begin with, because it included Kirkhill Golf Club, which is clearly in Cambuslang.”
The existing UK Parliamentary boundaries in Scotland have been in place since 2005.
A spokesperson for the Boundaries Commission said:“The constituency boundary in this area has remained unchanged since 1983.
“The Boundary Commission for Scotland recently completed its 2018 Review of UK Parliament constituencies.
“The review recommended 53 constituencies for Scotland, six fewer than at present.
“The Commission’s recommendations amended the constituency boundary in this area and placed the Greenlees development within a Lanarkshire West constituency.
“Our 2018 Review Report was submitted to the UK Parliament in September 2018.
“The next step is for the UK Government to lay before Parliament the draft Order to implement our recommendations and those of the other UK Commissions.
“Under the current legislation, the Commission expects to commence its next review of UK Parliament constituencies in 2021 and submit its recommendations in 2023.”
The recommended boundaries for the 2018 Review can be viewed via www.bcomm-scotland.independent.gov.uk.