Proposals for Parliamentary boundaries heavily revised
They have the power – now use it
MAJOR CHANGES have been made to plans to redraw the Parliamentary constituency boundaries in Yorkshire and across the country.
The Boundary Commission for England has today released revised maps after it revealed in September last year that the number of MPs across Yorkshire would be reduced from 54 to 50.
While that figure stays the same, 31 constituencies have been revised from the previous proposals. Nineteen have not been revised, however, and eight constituencies would be the same as they are under the existing arrangements.
In Bradford and Sheffield, the Commission has decided to move away from its initial plans and revised the composition of seven constituencies.
One of the most striking changes proposed last year – the disappearance of the Penistone and Stocksbridge for a new Sheffield Hallam and Stocksbridge constituency – has been altered.
In the new plans, Sheffield Hallam would stay while there would be a Barnsley West and Stocksbridge constituency.
Sam Hartley, Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Based on what people have said to us, we have revised more than half of our initial proposals.”
Elsewhere, Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency remains under threat as the Labour leader’s Islington North seat would cease to exist under the proposals.
The review of boundaries is aimed at reducing the number of MPs to 600, representing broadly similar-sized electorates.
But the proposals appear unlikely to be approved by Parliament after Theresa May lost the Conservative majority in the Commons as the plans would face stiff opposition from other major parties and disgruntled Tories who stand to lose their seats.
The Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 MPs Mrs May relies on to have a majority in the Commons, are also seen as unlikely to support moves which could see their representation cut.
Liberal Democrat chief whip Alistair Carmichael urged the Government to pull the plug on the process, claiming it would take a “miracle” for the plans to be approved by Parliament.
Final proposals will be submitted to Parliament in September 2018 and if agreed, the new constituencies would be in use at the next scheduled general election in 2022.
EVEN THOUGH the Conservatives are committed to reducing the number of MPs by 50, there’s as much chance of the Boundary Commission’s proposals being implemented as Yorkshire councils agreeing a devolution deal by the end of the week.
Put simply, Theresa May is being naive in the extreme if she thinks it’s wise to abolish constituencies, and for sitting Tory MPs to be pitted against each other in re-selection fights, when she’s trying to push through Brexit without a majority.
After all, David Cameron only advocated the move in order to restore trust following the expenses scandal and to show that Westminster, too, would share the pain of austerity when, in reality, the savings will be minimal. Cutting the number of junior Ministers, and reforming the Lords, might be more prudent.
Yet, as the CBI bosses head to Parliament to discuss Yorkshire’s devolution deadlock, should this region’s 56 MPs, and specifically this county’s 16 Tories, be doing more to assert themselves?
Despite Yorkshire MPs being represented in every Cabinet – Tory and Labour alike – since 1995 when one William Hague became Welsh Secretary, these highprofile individuals could still not secure investment commensurate with this area’s myriad needs.
However, the political dynamics have already changed in this finelybalanced Parliament. In return for its support on key issues, the DUP secured an additional £1bn for Northern Ireland – the equivalent of £100m for each its 10 MPs. And with 13 Tory MPs elected in Scotland already making their mark by working collectively to maximise their demands, when are Yorkshire’s 16 disparate Conservative MPs going to realise that they, too, hold the balance of power and will never have a better chance to stand up for God’s own county? If they did so, they will have no problems justifying their existence.