Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in England
Response to Revised Proposals
10 December 2012
Contents
3. East Kent
7. Kent & East Sussex
10. North Buckinghamshire
12. West Surrey (& Berkshire)
20. Plymouth & West Devon
22. South Essex
30. South West Hertfordshire
31. North Lancashire
33. East Lancashire
34. Manchester
36. Cheshire
37. North East England
38. County Durham
40. Tyneside & Northumberland
East Kent
Problems with Commission’s revised proposals:
- Whitstable split between seats
- Margate split between seats
- Dover and Folkestone seats both contain orphan wards
Benefits of Locus counterproposal:
- Whitstable and Margate are not split between seats
- Folkestone & Hythe seat is conterminous with Shepway district
Disadvantages of Locus counterproposal:
- Canterbury seat contains 2 orphan wards
- Canterbury seat contains parts of 4 districts
Swapping the Little Stour and Marshside wards between the Canterbury and North Kent Coast seats would deal with these matters (albeit that the links are weak between the Minster and Ash areas) at the expense of constituency shape.
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Folkestone & Hythe |
80060 |
Lydd |
4870 |
| Romney Marsh |
1859 |
||
| New Romney Town |
2799 |
||
| New Romney Coast |
2953 |
||
| Hythe West |
3442 |
||
| North Downs West |
3612 |
||
| Lympne and Stanford |
1614 |
||
| Tolsford |
1626 |
||
| Folkestone East |
3475 |
||
| North Downs East |
6529 |
||
| Folkestone Harbour |
3779 |
||
| Folkestone Harvey Central |
4296 |
||
| Folkestone Harvey West |
3557 |
||
| Folkestone Sandgate |
3339 |
||
| Hythe East |
3400 |
||
| Hythe Central |
4893 |
||
| Dymchurch and St Mary’s Bay |
5320 |
||
| Folkestone Park |
4837 |
||
| Folkestone Morehall |
3244 |
||
| Folkestone Foord |
3891 |
||
| Folkestone Cheriton |
4964 |
||
| Elham and Stelling Minnis |
1761 |
||
| Dover & Deal |
77565 |
Capel-le-Ferne |
1904 |
| Town and Pier |
1456 |
||
| Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory |
5249 |
||
| St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe |
3441 |
||
| Mill Hill |
5852 |
||
| Middle Deal and Sholden |
5833 |
||
| Aylesham |
3530 |
||
| Buckland |
5347 |
||
| Castle |
1704 |
||
| Eastry |
3946 |
||
| Eythorne and Shepherdswell |
3702 |
||
| Lydden and Temple Ewell |
1902 |
||
| North Deal |
5513 |
||
| Ringwould |
1687 |
||
| River |
3737 |
||
| St Radigunds |
3518 |
||
| Sandwich |
5572 |
||
| Tower Hamlets |
3744 |
||
| Walmer |
6039 |
||
| Whitfield |
3889 |
||
| East Thanet |
75112 |
Beacon Road |
3246 |
| Bradstowe |
3230 |
||
| Central Harbour |
5319 |
||
| Cliffsend and Pegwell |
3710 |
||
| Cliftonville East |
4987 |
||
| Dane Valley |
5167 |
||
| Eastcliff |
4741 |
||
| Kingsgate |
1746 |
||
| Nethercourt |
3393 |
||
| Northwood |
4808 |
||
| St Peters |
5522 |
||
| Salmestone |
3549 |
||
| Sir Moses Montefiore |
3456 |
||
| Viking |
5347 |
||
| Newington |
3177 |
||
| Margate Central |
2884 |
||
| Cliftonville West |
4319 |
||
| Garlinge |
3463 |
||
| Westbrook |
3048 |
||
| North Kent Coast |
74210 |
Thanet Villages |
4753 |
| Birchington South |
4973 |
||
| Westgate-on-Sea |
5068 |
||
| Birchington North |
3181 |
||
| Marshside |
2313 |
||
| Reculver |
6988 |
||
| Herne and Broomfield |
6289 |
||
| Greenhill and Eddington |
4491 |
||
| Chestfield and Swalecliffe |
6755 |
||
| Seasalter |
6206 |
||
| Gorrell |
4572 |
||
| Harbour |
3936 |
||
| Tankerton |
3742 |
||
| West Bay |
4834 |
||
| Heron |
6109 |
||
| Canterbury & Faversham |
76364 |
Chartham and Stone Street |
4251 |
| Barham Downs |
2153 |
||
| North Nailbourne |
2146 |
||
| Little Stour |
2086 |
||
| Barton |
5829 |
||
| Wincheap |
5891 |
||
| Harbledown |
1994 |
||
| St Stephens |
4973 |
||
| Northgate |
4083 |
||
| Sturry South |
2246 |
||
| Sturry North |
2127 |
||
| Blean Forest |
4878 |
||
| Boughton and Courtenay |
4193 |
||
| East Downs |
2105 |
||
| Watling |
3997 |
||
| Abbey |
4425 |
||
| Davington Priory |
1904 |
||
| St Ann’s |
3844 |
||
| Westgate |
5911 |
||
| Downs North |
1931 |
||
| Little Stour and Ashstone |
5397 |
||
| Ashford |
80090 |
Aylesford Green |
1906 |
| Beaver |
3931 |
||
| Bockhanger |
1814 |
||
| Boughton Aluph and Eastwell |
2287 |
||
| Bybrook |
1944 |
||
| Downs West |
1892 |
||
| Godinton |
4054 |
||
| Great Chart with Singleton North |
2571 |
||
| Highfield |
1905 |
||
| Isle of Oxney |
2135 |
||
| Kennington |
1778 |
||
| Little Burton Farm |
2171 |
||
| Norman |
1933 |
||
| North Willesborough |
3862 |
||
| Park Farm North |
2432 |
||
| Park Farm South |
2045 |
||
| Saxon Shore |
4096 |
||
| Singleton South |
2240 |
||
| South Willesborough |
2417 |
||
| Stanhope |
1745 |
||
| Stour |
3664 |
||
| Victoria |
3675 |
||
| Washford |
2360 |
||
| Weald Central |
3889 |
||
| Weald East |
1737 |
||
| Weald South |
4208 |
||
| Wye |
1797 |
||
| Charing |
2026 |
||
| Rolvenden and Tenterden West |
1910 |
||
| Tenterden South |
1916 |
||
| St Michaels |
1900 |
||
| Tenterden North |
1850 |
Kent/East Sussex
Problems with Commission’s revised proposals:
- The Hailsham/Hellingly area is split between seats
- The shape of the Bexhill seat
Locus counterproposal to solve those problems:
– Include Hellingly area in Bexhill seat
– include Heathfield area in Uckfield seat
– include Battle area in High Weald seat.
–
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Bexhill & Hailsham | 75230 | Central |
4056 |
| Collington |
3813 |
||
| Kewhurst |
3953 |
||
| Old Town |
3014 |
||
| Sackville |
3655 |
||
| St Marks |
3847 |
||
| St Michaels |
3809 |
||
| St Stephens |
3770 |
||
| Sidley |
3919 |
||
| Ninfield and Hooe with Wartling |
1966 |
||
| Pevensey and Westham |
7455 |
||
| Polegate North |
4168 |
||
| Polegate South |
2045 |
||
| Hailsham East |
1969 |
||
| Hailsham South and West |
6318 |
||
| Hailsham Central and North |
4349 |
||
| Herstmonceux |
2240 |
||
| Hellingly |
4478 |
||
| East Dean |
1920 |
||
| Alfriston |
2024 |
||
| Chiddingly and East Hoathly |
2462 |
||
| High Weald | 73750 | Mayfield |
2090 |
| Rotherfield |
1980 |
||
| Crowborough East |
3968 |
||
| Crowborough West |
3874 |
||
| Crowborough St. Johns |
2006 |
||
| Frant/Withyham |
4072 |
||
| Crowborough North |
4283 |
||
| Crowborough Jarvis Brook |
1977 |
||
| Wadhurst |
3967 |
||
| Salehurst |
3549 |
||
| Ticehurst and Etchingham |
3470 |
||
| Rother Levels |
3762 |
||
| Ewhurst and Sedlescombe |
2042 |
||
| Hawkhurst and Sandhurst |
4606 |
||
| Benenden and Cranbrook |
5133 |
||
| Frittenden and Sissinghurst |
1674 |
||
| Goudhurst and Lamberhurst |
3291 |
||
| Brenchley and Horsmonden |
3860 |
||
| Darwell |
4054 |
||
| Battle Town |
4012 |
||
| Crowhurst |
2058 |
||
| Biddenden |
2102 |
||
| Weald North |
1920 |
||
| Lewes & Uckfield | 73040 | Kingston |
1602 |
| Ouse Valley and Ringmer |
5102 |
||
| Lewes Bridge |
3600 |
||
| Lewes Castle |
3544 |
||
| Lewes Priory |
5347 |
||
| Barcombe and Hamsey |
1609 |
||
| Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington and St John (Without) |
1743 |
||
| Ditchling and Westmeston |
1968 |
||
| Chailey and Wivelsfield |
3805 |
||
| Newick |
1964 |
||
| Buxted and Maresfield |
4277 |
||
| Uckfield Central |
2401 |
||
| Uckfield New Town |
2073 |
||
| Uckfield Ridgewood |
2375 |
||
| Uckfield North |
4169 |
||
| Framfield |
2200 |
||
| Cross in Hand/Five Ashes |
2000 |
||
| Heathfield North and Central |
6123 |
||
| Heathfield East |
2032 |
||
| Horam |
2123 |
||
| Newhaven Valley |
2858 |
||
| Danehill/Fletching/Nutley |
4162 |
||
| Forest Row |
3838 |
||
| Hartfield |
2125 |
North Buckinghamshire
The Commission’s revised proposals take two small bites out of Bletchley and include them in the Buckingham seat. It would be more sensible to include the two wards east of Bletchley – which are separated from the town by the A5, the river, the canal and the park – in the Buckingham seat.
Also, since Aylesbury town has now expanded into the Weedon ward, it would be sensible to include it in the Aylesbury seat.
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From Milton Keynes South to Buckingham: Walton Park, Danesborough
From Buckingham to Milton Keynes South: Waddon, Eaton Manor
From Buckingham to Aylesbury: Weedon, Bierton
Revised electorates:
Milton Keynes South 75,647
Buckingham 76,607
Aylesbury 80,288
Surrey/Berkshire
Including one ward from Berkshire in a Surrey seat is one of the most ridiculous things the Commission has ever done. While I dare say you think you have found a clever solution to a difficult situation, neither the electors concerned, nor their MP, will be well served by such an arrangement.
Alternative 1
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Egham, Chertsey & Staines | 74683 | Staines |
5574 |
| Staines South |
5219 |
||
| Riverside and Laleham |
5271 |
||
| Englefield Green West |
3358 |
||
| Englefield Green East |
3795 |
||
| Egham Town |
4076 |
||
| Egham Hythe |
4676 |
||
| Thorpe |
4217 |
||
| Virginia Water |
4194 |
||
| Foxhills |
4190 |
||
| Chertsey St Ann’s |
4757 |
||
| Chertsey Meads |
4377 |
||
| Addlestone North |
4193 |
||
| Chertsey South and Row Town |
4080 |
||
| Woodham |
4168 |
||
| New Haw |
4329 |
||
| Addlestone Bourneside |
4209 |
||
| Walton, Ashford & Sunbury | 76533 | Stanwell North |
5394 |
| Ashford North and Stanwell South |
5604 |
||
| Ashford Town |
5329 |
||
| Ashford East |
5606 |
||
| Ashford Common |
6047 |
||
| Laleham and Shepperton Green |
6063 |
||
| Sunbury Common |
5688 |
||
| Sunbury East |
5319 |
||
| Halliford and Sunbury West |
4704 |
||
| Shepperton Town |
5393 |
||
| Oatlands Park |
4566 |
||
| Walton South |
4701 |
||
| Walton Central |
4756 |
||
| Walton North |
4489 |
||
| Walton Ambleside |
2874 |
||
| Esher, Weybridge & Horsley | 79173 | Cobham and Downside |
4652 |
| Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon |
4591 |
||
| Claygate |
5192 |
||
| Hinchley Wood |
3418 |
||
| Long Ditton |
4548 |
||
| Thames Ditton |
4552 |
||
| Molesey East |
4716 |
||
| Molesey South |
4792 |
||
| Molesey North |
4548 |
||
| Hersham North |
4268 |
||
| Esher |
4654 |
||
| Weston Green |
2690 |
||
| Cobham Fairmile |
2894 |
||
| Hersham South |
4627 |
||
| St George’s Hill |
4416 |
||
| Weybridge South |
3050 |
||
| Weybridge North |
3029 |
||
| Lovelace |
1799 |
||
| Clandon and Horsley |
6737 |
||
| Woking | 73049 | Goldsworth East |
5294 |
| Goldsworth West |
3736 |
||
| Hermitage and Knaphill South |
3865 |
||
| Horsell East and Woodham |
3602 |
||
| Horsell West |
5179 |
||
| Kingfield and Westfield |
4001 |
||
| Knaphill |
6934 |
||
| Maybury and Sheerwater |
6493 |
||
| Mayford and Sutton Green |
1878 |
||
| Mount Hermon East |
3680 |
||
| Mount Hermon West |
4134 |
||
| St John’s and Hook Heath |
3438 |
||
| Old Woking |
2107 |
||
| Pyrford |
3935 |
||
| West Byfleet |
4177 |
||
| Byfleet |
5432 |
||
| Send |
3264 |
||
| Brookwood |
1900 |
||
| Guildford & Godalming | 74602 | Shalford |
4250 |
| Merrow |
5882 |
||
| Christchurch |
3869 |
||
| Stoke |
4443 |
||
| Stoughton |
6966 |
||
| Westborough |
6526 |
||
| Onslow |
7014 |
||
| Friary and St Nicolas |
6521 |
||
| Holy Trinity |
5589 |
||
| Burpham |
4086 |
||
| Godalming Holloway |
3257 |
||
| Godalming Central and Ockford |
3400 |
||
| Godalming Farncombe and Catteshall |
3489 |
||
| Godalming Charterhouse |
2719 |
||
| Godalming Binscombe |
3152 |
||
| Bramley, Busbridge and Hascombe |
3439 |
||
| Farnham | 73867 | Ash Vale |
4169 |
| Ash Wharf |
4731 |
||
| Ash South and Tongham |
5988 |
||
| Farnham Castle |
3262 |
||
| Farnham Upper Hale |
3125 |
||
| Elstead and Thursley |
2980 |
||
| Farnham Bourne |
3079 |
||
| Farnham Firgrove |
3145 |
||
| Farnham Moor Park |
3549 |
||
| Farnham Wrecclesham and Rowledge |
3272 |
||
| Frensham, Dockenfield and Tilford |
3119 |
||
| Farnham Weybourne and Badshot Lea |
3340 |
||
| Farnham Hale and Heath End |
3280 |
||
| Farnham Shortheath and Boundstone |
3094 |
||
| Hindhead |
3221 |
||
| Haslemere Critchmere and Shottermill |
4396 |
||
| Haslemere East and Grayswood |
5040 |
||
| Milford |
3104 |
||
| Witley and Hambledon |
3035 |
||
| Chiddingfold and Dunsfold |
2998 |
||
| Pilgrims |
1940 |
||
| Camberley & Frimley | 74543 | Chobham |
2992 |
| West End |
3365 |
||
| Bisley |
2734 |
||
| Windlesham |
3316 |
||
| Lightwater |
5356 |
||
| Bagshot |
4301 |
||
| Old Dean |
3114 |
||
| Town |
3427 |
||
| St Michaels |
3606 |
||
| Watchetts |
3755 |
||
| St Pauls |
4522 |
||
| Parkside |
4772 |
||
| Heatherside |
4519 |
||
| Frimley |
4418 |
||
| Mytchett and Deepcut |
5009 |
||
| Frimley Green |
4359 |
||
| Normandy |
2380 |
||
| Pirbright |
2163 |
||
| Worplesdon |
6435 |
Alternative 2
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Egham, Chertsey & Staines | 74683 | Staines |
5574 |
| Staines South |
5219 |
||
| Riverside and Laleham |
5271 |
||
| Englefield Green West |
3358 |
||
| Englefield Green East |
3795 |
||
| Egham Town |
4076 |
||
| Egham Hythe |
4676 |
||
| Thorpe |
4217 |
||
| Virginia Water |
4194 |
||
| Foxhills |
4190 |
||
| Chertsey St Ann’s |
4757 |
||
| Chertsey Meads |
4377 |
||
| Addlestone North |
4193 |
||
| Chertsey South and Row Town |
4080 |
||
| Woodham |
4168 |
||
| New Haw |
4329 |
||
| Addlestone Bourneside |
4209 |
||
| Weybridge, Ashford & Sunbury | 75640 | Stanwell North |
5394 |
| Ashford North and Stanwell South |
5604 |
||
| Ashford Town |
5329 |
||
| Ashford East |
5606 |
||
| Ashford Common |
6047 |
||
| Laleham and Shepperton Green |
6063 |
||
| Sunbury Common |
5688 |
||
| Sunbury East |
5319 |
||
| Halliford and Sunbury West |
4704 |
||
| Shepperton Town |
5393 |
||
| Oatlands Park |
4566 |
||
| Weybridge North |
3029 |
||
| Weybridge South |
3050 |
||
| St George’s Hill |
4416 |
||
| Byfleet |
5432 |
||
| Esher & Walton | 76962 | Cobham and Downside |
4652 |
| Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon |
4591 |
||
| Claygate |
5192 |
||
| Hinchley Wood |
3418 |
||
| Long Ditton |
4548 |
||
| Thames Ditton |
4552 |
||
| Molesey East |
4716 |
||
| Molesey South |
4792 |
||
| Molesey North |
4548 |
||
| Hersham North |
4268 |
||
| Esher |
4654 |
||
| Weston Green |
2690 |
||
| Cobham Fairmile |
2894 |
||
| Hersham South |
4627 |
||
| Walton South |
4701 |
||
| Walton Ambleside |
2874 |
||
| Walton North |
4489 |
||
| Walton Central |
4756 |
||
| Woking | 73959 | Goldsworth East |
5294 |
| Goldsworth West |
3736 |
||
| Hermitage and Knaphill South |
3865 |
||
| Horsell East and Woodham |
3602 |
||
| Horsell West |
5179 |
||
| Kingfield and Westfield |
4001 |
||
| Knaphill |
6934 |
||
| Maybury and Sheerwater |
6493 |
||
| Mayford and Sutton Green |
1878 |
||
| Mount Hermon East |
3680 |
||
| Mount Hermon West |
4134 |
||
| St John’s and Hook Heath |
3438 |
||
| Old Woking |
2107 |
||
| Pyrford |
3935 |
||
| West Byfleet |
4177 |
||
| Send |
3264 |
||
| Brookwood |
1900 |
||
| Lovelace |
1799 |
||
| Pirbright |
2163 |
||
| Normandy |
2380 |
||
| Guildford | 73697 | Shalford |
4250 |
| Merrow |
5882 |
||
| Christchurch |
3869 |
||
| Stoke |
4443 |
||
| Stoughton |
6966 |
||
| Westborough |
6526 |
||
| Onslow |
7014 |
||
| Friary and St Nicolas |
6521 |
||
| Holy Trinity |
5589 |
||
| Burpham |
4086 |
||
| Worplesdon |
6435 |
||
| Pilgrims |
1940 |
||
| Clandon and Horsley |
6737 |
||
| Bramley, Busbridge and Hascombe |
3439 |
||
| South West Surrey | 73056 | Farnham Castle |
3262 |
| Farnham Upper Hale |
3125 |
||
| Elstead and Thursley |
2980 |
||
| Farnham Bourne |
3079 |
||
| Farnham Firgrove |
3145 |
||
| Farnham Moor Park |
3549 |
||
| Farnham Wrecclesham and Rowledge |
3272 |
||
| Frensham, Dockenfield and Tilford |
3119 |
||
| Farnham Weybourne and Badshot Lea |
3340 |
||
| Farnham Hale and Heath End |
3280 |
||
| Farnham Shortheath and Boundstone |
3094 |
||
| Hindhead |
3221 |
||
| Haslemere Critchmere and Shottermill |
4396 |
||
| Haslemere East and Grayswood |
5040 |
||
| Milford |
3104 |
||
| Witley and Hambledon |
3035 |
||
| Chiddingfold and Dunsfold |
2998 |
||
| Godalming Holloway |
3257 |
||
| Godalming Central and Ockford |
3400 |
||
| Godalming Charterhouse |
2719 |
||
| Godalming Farncombe and Catteshall |
3489 |
||
| Godalming Binscombe |
3152 |
||
| Surrey Heath | 78453 | Chobham |
2992 |
| West End |
3365 |
||
| Bisley |
2734 |
||
| Windlesham |
3316 |
||
| Lightwater |
5356 |
||
| Bagshot |
4301 |
||
| Old Dean |
3114 |
||
| Town |
3427 |
||
| St Michaels |
3606 |
||
| Watchetts |
3755 |
||
| St Pauls |
4522 |
||
| Parkside |
4772 |
||
| Heatherside |
4519 |
||
| Frimley |
4418 |
||
| Mytchett and Deepcut |
5009 |
||
| Frimley Green |
4359 |
||
| Ash Vale |
4169 |
||
| Ash Wharf |
4731 |
||
| Ash South and Tongham |
5988 |
Plymouth and West Devon
The main remaining problem with the Commission’s proposals is the inclusion of Moor View in a non-Plymouth seat. It is possible to reverse this decision without splitting any wards (see below) although two better-formed seats could be constructed by splitting one ward.
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From Plymouth Devonport to Plymouth Sutton: Stoke, St Peter
From Plymouth Sutton to Plymouth Devonport: Eggbuckland, Peverell
Revised electorates:
Plymouth Devonport 79,069
Plymouth Sutton 80,373
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From Tavistock to Plymouth Sutton: Moor View
From Bideford to Central Devon: Torrington
From South Devon to Tavistock: Erme Valley
From Central Devon to South Devon: Ashburton & Buckfastleigh
Revised electorates:
Tavistock & Plympton 74,564
Bideford & Bude 73,243
Central Devon 73,054
South Devon 75,625
South Essex
The issue that jumps at you from the Commission’s revised proposals for Essex is that Basildon town is split between 4 seats, which must be a record. This has been partly caused by the successful campaign to have Leigh removed from the Canvey Island seat.
Another poor aspect of the proposals is the Billericay-Great Dunmow seat. There is no connection between the two towns apart from the fact that they are in the same county.
A reasonable conclusion from the unsatisfactory outcome of the consultation is that the geography of Essex means that one is searching for the “least worst” solution. I submit the counterproposal below as being less ungood than the compromise the Commission has come up with.
Advantages:
- All of Basildon together in one seat
- Uttlesford district all in one seat instead of split between 3
- Braintree and Halstead in the same seat
Disadvantages
- Castle Point district is divided between seats, although I would suggest that the two seats combine areas of similar character and interest.
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Grays Thurrock | 77667 | Aveley and Uplands |
6337 |
| West Thurrock and South Stifford |
5974 |
||
| South Chafford |
4610 |
||
| Chafford and North Stifford |
5227 |
||
| Grays Riverside |
6682 |
||
| Grays Thurrock |
6122 |
||
| Little Thurrock Rectory |
4461 |
||
| Stifford Clays |
4850 |
||
| Little Thurrock Blackshots |
4498 |
||
| Belhus |
6563 |
||
| Ockendon |
6726 |
||
| Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park |
4298 |
||
| Tilbury St Chads |
4172 |
||
| Chadwell St Mary |
7147 |
||
| Canvey & East Thurrock | 73618 | Stanford-le-Hope West |
4682 |
| Corringham and Fobbing |
4485 |
||
| Stanford East and Corringham Town |
6476 |
||
| The Homesteads |
6667 |
||
| Canvey Island East |
4587 |
||
| Canvey Island North |
4962 |
||
| Canvey Island Winter Gardens |
4570 |
||
| Canvey Island South |
4701 |
||
| Canvey Island Central |
4636 |
||
| Canvey Island West |
3394 |
||
| St Mary’s |
4635 |
||
| Appleton |
5018 |
||
| East Tilbury |
4746 |
||
| Boyce |
5003 |
||
| St James |
5056 |
||
| Basildon | 78374 | Langdon Hills |
6900 |
| Laindon Park |
8252 |
||
| Lee Chapel North |
8705 |
||
| Nethermayne |
8748 |
||
| Vange |
6750 |
||
| Pitsea North West |
9136 |
||
| Fryerns |
9261 |
||
| St Martin’s |
5798 |
||
| Crouch |
6367 |
||
| Pitsea South East |
8457 |
||
| Brentwood & Billericay | 74939 | Burstead |
8482 |
| Billericay East |
9170 |
||
| Billericay West |
9338 |
||
| Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon |
2940 |
||
| Warley |
4508 |
||
| South Weald |
1407 |
||
| Pilgrims Hatch |
4553 |
||
| Brentwood North |
4556 |
||
| Brentwood West |
4973 |
||
| Brentwood South |
4211 |
||
| Hutton South |
3047 |
||
| Hutton Central |
2885 |
||
| Hutton East |
2851 |
||
| Hutton North |
3079 |
||
| Shenfield |
4167 |
||
| Orsett |
4772 |
||
| Southend West | 73861 | West Leigh |
7089 |
| Leigh |
7298 |
||
| Belfairs |
7422 |
||
| Eastwood Park |
7616 |
||
| St. Laurence |
7537 |
||
| Prittlewell |
7575 |
||
| Blenheim Park |
7786 |
||
| Westborough |
7369 |
||
| Chalkwell |
7088 |
||
| Victoria |
7081 |
||
| Southend East | 77736 | Thorpe |
7414 |
| Southchurch |
7423 |
||
| West Shoebury |
7443 |
||
| Shoeburyness |
7942 |
||
| Foulness and Great Wakering |
4477 |
||
| Barling and Sutton |
1444 |
||
| Rochford |
5740 |
||
| Hawkwell South |
3349 |
||
| Hawkwell North |
3540 |
||
| Ashingdon and Canewdon |
3503 |
||
| Kursaal |
7113 |
||
| St. Luke’s |
8068 |
||
| Milton |
6986 |
||
| Hawkwell West |
3294 |
||
| Chelmsford Rural | 74545 | South Hanningfield, Stock and Margaretting |
4403 |
| Bicknacre and East and West Hanningfield |
4048 |
||
| South Woodham-Elmwood and Woodville |
6242 |
||
| South Woodham-Chetwood and Collingwood |
6474 |
||
| Rettendon and Runwell |
3908 |
||
| Little Baddow, Danbury and Sandon |
6570 |
||
| Chelmsford Rural West |
2188 |
||
| Writtle |
4330 |
||
| Broomfield and The Walthams |
6295 |
||
| Boreham and The Leighs |
4688 |
||
| High Ongar, Willingale and The Rodings |
1737 |
||
| Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash |
3313 |
||
| Shelley |
1705 |
||
| Ingatestone, Fryerning and Mountnessing |
4769 |
||
| Tipps Cross |
3042 |
||
| Moreton and Fyfield |
1720 |
||
| Galleywood |
4409 |
||
| Brizes and Doddinghurst |
4704 |
||
| Rayleigh | 80403 | Cedar Hall |
4407 |
| St Peter’s |
4812 |
||
| Victoria |
4365 |
||
| Downhall and Rawreth |
3708 |
||
| Grange |
2811 |
||
| Rayleigh Central |
3360 |
||
| Sweyne Park |
3261 |
||
| Trinity |
2905 |
||
| Wheatley |
3245 |
||
| Whitehouse |
3250 |
||
| St George’s |
4416 |
||
| Wickford Park |
6887 |
||
| Wickford North |
9532 |
||
| Wickford Castledon |
6198 |
||
| Lodge |
3231 |
||
| Hockley Central |
5256 |
||
| Hockley North |
1676 |
||
| Hockley West |
1658 |
||
| Hullbridge |
5425 |
||
| Epping Forest | 73939 | Buckhurst Hill West |
5154 |
| Loughton Forest |
3373 |
||
| Loughton St John’s |
3407 |
||
| Theydon Bois |
3258 |
||
| Loughton Alderton |
3311 |
||
| Loughton St Mary’s |
3373 |
||
| Loughton Roding |
3470 |
||
| Buckhurst Hill East |
3438 |
||
| Chigwell Village |
3221 |
||
| Grange Hill |
4797 |
||
| Chigwell Row |
1813 |
||
| Loughton Broadway |
3173 |
||
| Loughton Fairmead |
3227 |
||
| Waltham Abbey High Beach |
1775 |
||
| Lambourne |
1573 |
||
| Passingford |
1772 |
||
| Epping Hemnall |
4805 |
||
| Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common |
4874 |
||
| Waltham Abbey Honey Lane |
4569 |
||
| Waltham Abbey South West |
3042 |
||
| Waltham Abbey North East |
3186 |
||
| Waltham Abbey Paternoster |
3328 |
||
| Harlow | 72847 | Little Parndon and Hare Street |
5750 |
| Netteswell |
5377 |
||
| Mark Hall |
5029 |
||
| Old Harlow |
5338 |
||
| Church Langley |
6204 |
||
| Harlow Common |
5486 |
||
| Staple Tye |
4978 |
||
| Sumners and Kingsmoor |
5300 |
||
| Great Parndon |
5062 |
||
| Toddbrook |
5284 |
||
| Bush Fair |
5572 |
||
| Lower Nazeing |
3198 |
||
| Roydon |
1743 |
||
| Hastingwood, Matching and Sheering Village |
1671 |
||
| Lower Sheering |
1708 |
||
| Broadley Common, Epping Upland and Nazeing |
1618 |
||
| North Weald Bassett |
3529 |
||
| Saffron Walden | 73380 | Broad Oak and the Hallingburys |
2746 |
| Hatfield Heath |
1408 |
||
| Birchanger |
1076 |
||
| Stansted South |
2378 |
||
| Stansted North |
2606 |
||
| Elsenham and Henham |
2826 |
||
| Takeley and the Canfields |
3395 |
||
| Great Dunmow South |
3849 |
||
| Great Dunmow North |
2830 |
||
| The Eastons |
1213 |
||
| Stebbing |
1228 |
||
| Stort Valley |
1174 |
||
| Clavering |
1152 |
||
| Newport |
2668 |
||
| Thaxted |
2676 |
||
| Wimbish and Debden |
1727 |
||
| The Sampfords |
1464 |
||
| Saffron Walden Shire |
4093 |
||
| Saffron Walden Audley |
3754 |
||
| Littlebury |
1303 |
||
| Wenden Lofts |
1207 |
||
| The Chesterfords |
1278 |
||
| Saffron Walden Castle |
3635 |
||
| Ashdon |
1336 |
||
| Stour Valley North |
1795 |
||
| Yeldham |
1640 |
||
| Upper Colne |
1716 |
||
| Bumpstead |
2015 |
||
| Three Fields |
3147 |
||
| Felsted |
3871 |
||
| The Rodings |
1369 |
||
| Barnston and High Easter |
1346 |
||
| Rayne |
1744 |
||
| Panfield |
1715 |
||
| Braintree | 72947 | Braintree Central |
5893 |
| Braintree East |
4965 |
||
| Braintree South |
5242 |
||
| Great Notley and Braintree West |
5185 |
||
| Bocking South |
4104 |
||
| Bocking Blackwater |
5977 |
||
| Bocking North |
3483 |
||
| Gosfield and Greenstead Green |
2041 |
||
| Halstead St Andrew’s |
5247 |
||
| Halstead Trinity |
3512 |
||
| The Three Colnes |
3958 |
||
| Cressing and Stisted |
1791 |
||
| Black Notley and Terling |
3075 |
||
| Coggeshall and North Feering |
3975 |
||
| Bradwell, Silver End and Rivenhall |
3671 |
||
| Kelvedon |
3934 |
||
| Stour Valley South |
1733 |
||
| Hedingham and Maplestead |
5161 |
||
| Maldon & Witham | 76408 | Great Totham |
2944 |
| Heybridge West |
3074 |
||
| Heybridge East |
3232 |
||
| Tolleshunt D’Arcy |
3252 |
||
| Tollesbury |
1616 |
||
| Tiptree |
6106 |
||
| Maldon North |
3251 |
||
| Wickham Bishops and Woodham |
2913 |
||
| Maldon East |
1654 |
||
| Maldon South |
3036 |
||
| Maldon West |
3078 |
||
| Tillingham |
1779 |
||
| Southminster |
3181 |
||
| Burnham-on-Crouch South |
3141 |
||
| Burnham-on-Crouch North |
3016 |
||
| Mayland |
3409 |
||
| Althorne |
3331 |
||
| Purleigh |
2712 |
||
| Witham South |
6242 |
||
| Witham Chipping Hill and Central |
3546 |
||
| Witham North |
3432 |
||
| Witham West |
4989 |
||
| Hatfield Peverel |
3474 |
||
| Chelmsford Urban | 73426 | Springfield North |
6714 |
| Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park |
8127 |
||
| The Lawns |
4220 |
||
| Patching Hall |
6705 |
||
| St Andrews |
6729 |
||
| Marconi |
5167 |
||
| Waterhouse Farm |
4424 |
||
| Moulsham and Central |
7329 |
||
| Trinity |
4425 |
||
| Great Baddow East |
6416 |
||
| Great Baddow West |
4512 |
||
| Moulsham Lodge |
4311 |
||
| Goat Hall |
4347 |
South West Hertfordshire
The communities south of Watford (i.e the South Oxhey area) have been split between 3 seats. In this counterproposal I put them together in the Watford seat:
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From Hertsmere to Watford: Carpenders Park
From SW Herts to Watford: Ashridge (Three Rivers), Northwick, Hayling
From Hemel to SW Herts: Ashridge (Dacorum), Watling, Kings Langley
From Watford to Hemel: Langleybury, Leavesden, Abbots Langley
From Welwyn Hatfield to Hertsmere: Northaw & Cuffley
Revised electorates:
Watford 77,724
SW Herts 80,212
Hemel Hempstead 76,841
Hertsmere 75,036
Welwyn Hatfield 75,496
North Lancashire
Problems with the Commission’s revised proposals:
- Fulwood and Carleton are split between seats.
- Preston district is split between 3 seats, including the orphan ward of Lea in the Fylde seat.
Benefits of Locus counterproposal:
- Fulwood and Carleton are not split between seats.
- The part of Preston district not included in the Preston seat is all in the Fylde seat, including the neighbouring urban wards of Ingol and Lea.
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From Preston to Fylde: Ingol
From Lancaster to Preston: Greyfriars
From Lancaster to Fylde: Preston Rural North, Preston Rural East
From Blackpool North to Lancaster: Carleton
From Fylde to Lancaster: Tithebarn, High Cross, Breck, Hardhorn, Singleton, Elswick
Revised electorates:
Preston 77,763
Fylde 78,633
Lancaster & Wyre 79,192
Blackpool N & Fleetwood 77,073
East Lancashire
The Commission’s revised proposals split Accrington between seats. It is acceptable for Oswaldtwistle, Church and Clayton to be included in the Rossendale seat, but Accrington’s Central ward needs to be kept with the rest of the town. The simplest way of doing this is by swapping it with the Baxenden ward. This is also an Accrington ward, but it is on the outskirts of town and it is well-connected with Rossendale.
Revised electorates:
Rossendale & Oswaldtwistle 79,054
Burnley & Accrington 78,838
Manchester
Like in other cities, e.g. Birmingham, the Commission’s proposals are unacceptable because of the number of orphan wards that have been created. With a city of Manchester’s size there may be the need for one or two cross-border seats, but the mess in the revised recommendations is an artefact of a flawed methodology.
Orphan wards:
Manchester Central includes one Tameside ward (Droylsden West), thereby splitting Droylsden.
Manchester Gorton includes one Stockport ward (Reddish North), thereby splitting Reddish.
Bury South includes one Manchester ward (Crumpsall), thereby carving a hole in North Manchester.
Stretford & Urmston includes one Manchester ward (Whalley Range), thereby carving a hole in South Manchester.
These egregious failures of the redistricting process are in addition to the more acceptable cross-border seats of Blackley & Broughton and Wythenshawe & Sale East, which were created at a previous Review because of the unbalanced electorates of the 3 metropolitan boroughs concerned (Manchester, Salford and Trafford).
Look at the consequences of the Commission’s policy:
- Unnecessary splitting of towns and other communities
- Unnecessary splitting of cities and districts
- Extra work for MPs who have to deal with an additional authority
- Extra work for authorities who have to deal with an additional MP
- Penalising districts with smaller wards which are leeched by neighbouring, larger authorities to make the numbers up
These are all serious problems and they all spring from the misguided belief that splitting wards is less acceptable than splitting cities, districts, towns and communities. To back itself up in this charade, the Commission includes various misstatements in its documentation. Very little in paragraph 31 of its Guide to the Review is true, and what’s more it gives the erroneous impression that ward boundaries have primacy over county or district boundaries. Specifically the guide is misleading in stating that:
- wards “are generally indicative of areas which have a broad community of interest.” In fact, although the local government boundary commission does (with the assistance of local authorities) make an effort to map communities to wards, the priority is electoral equality, just as it is for the parliamentary commission.
- splitting wards would be likely to “cause difficulties for electoral registration officers,” which is nonsense since nearly every ward is subdivided into parishes or polling districts.
The Commission’s conclusion that “it would not be appropriate to divide wards in cases where it is possible to construct constituencies [without doing so]” was wilfully shortsighted and ignorant and has proved disastrous for parliamentary democracy.
Take a metropolitan borough or unitary authority where the ward size is 17,000. Four wards total 68,000, which is too small. Five wards total 85,000, which is too big. In such a case (and there a many similarly problematic areas up and down the country), the Commission has prejudged what the seats will be in that case, either by finding the single possible combination of wards in the area that happens to fit the electoral requirement, or by leeching a small ward or wards from the neighbouring authority. This is a travesty.
Cheshire
I guessed correctly that the Commission would split a ward in Gloucestershire in order to avoid a single instance of nonsense, and I also guessed that they would not do the same in Cheshire in order to avoid a whole county’s worth of nonsense. That is a great shame, but the Commission is determined to lie in the bed it’s made for itself.
I’ve already discussed the Cheshire farce in my representation to the Chester hearing, so I won’t repeat myself here. Suffice it to say, they’ve made a pig’s ear of a dog’s breakfast. See:
Kafka in Chester https://ukelect.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/kafka-in-chester/
Powerpoint that accompanied my presentation https://ukelect.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/chester-presentation-a-bailey.ppt
Mersey Banks https://ukelect.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/mersey-banks/
and
Is Halton the whipping boy? https://ukelect.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/is-halton-the-whipping-boy/
(Yes!)
North East England
Although the Commission’s revised proposals are much better than what went before, there is one strange anomaly: a single Gateshead ward is included in a County Durham seat. Don’t get me wrong, Gateshead is traditionally a Durham town, but having seats cross three county boundaries makes the North East map unnecessarily complicated. The other main problem with the proposals is that there are 4 orphan wards associated with North Tyneside borough.
County Durham
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From NW Durham to another seat (see Tyneside/Northumberland versions 1 &2): Chopwell
From Durham City to NW Durham: Deerness Valley
From Durham City to Sedgefield: Ferryhill
From Bishop Auckland to Durham City: Spennymoor, Tudhoe
From Bishop Auckland to Billingham: Chilton
From Stockton N to Bishop Auckland: Aycliffe E, Aycliffe W, Aycliffe N
From Easington to Billingham: Trimdon
From Durham to Easington: Coxhoe
Revised electorates:
NW Durham 73,876
Bishop Auckland 73,931
Durham City 74,576
Easington 74,840
Billingham & Sedgefield 76,834
Tyneside and Northumberland
The two versions differ as to the fate of the Chopwell ward. In version 1 it’s merged into Gateshead; in version 2 it’s included in Hexham. Both versions address the issue of the orphan wards, the main difference with the Commission’s proposals being that Cramlington forms a seat with Longbenton instead of with western Newcastle.
Version 1, Part 1
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From NW Durham to Gateshead W: Chopwell
From Gateshead W to Gateshead E & Jarrow: Low Fell
From Gateshead E & Jarrow to Gateshead W: Felling
Revised electorates:
Gateshead W 79,316
Gateshead E & Jarrow 79,284
Version 1, Part 2
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Newcastle Newburn | 76805 | Castle |
7497 |
| Woolsington |
7837 |
||
| Newburn |
7065 |
||
| Westerhope |
7600 |
||
| Denton |
7805 |
||
| Lemington |
7461 |
||
| Benwell and Scotswood |
8473 |
||
| Elswick |
7231 |
||
| Fenham |
7908 |
||
| Blakelaw |
7928 |
||
| Newcastle Gosforth | 73238 | Parklands |
7670 |
| Fawdon |
7169 |
||
| Dene |
7507 |
||
| East Gosforth |
7297 |
||
| West Gosforth |
7437 |
||
| Kenton |
8032 |
||
| Wingrove |
8047 |
||
| Westgate |
5739 |
||
| South Jesmond |
7003 |
||
| North Jesmond |
7337 |
||
| Wallsend & Walker | 74570 | North Heaton |
7698 |
| South Heaton |
6943 |
||
| Byker |
6953 |
||
| Walker |
7527 |
||
| Walkergate |
7077 |
||
| Wallsend |
7766 |
||
| Howdon |
8257 |
||
| Battle Hill |
8331 |
||
| Northumberland |
6860 |
||
| Ouseburn |
7158 |
||
| Tynemouth | 76494 | Chirton |
8267 |
| Preston |
7040 |
||
| Tynemouth |
8407 |
||
| Cullercoats |
7513 |
||
| Collingwood |
8578 |
||
| Monkseaton South |
7686 |
||
| Whitley Bay |
7168 |
||
| Monkseaton North |
6996 |
||
| St Mary’s |
6909 |
||
| Riverside |
7930 |
||
| Cramlington & Longbenton | 78971 | Weetslade |
7646 |
| Killingworth |
7935 |
||
| Benton |
7863 |
||
| Longbenton |
8147 |
||
| Camperdown |
7882 |
||
| Cramlington West |
3922 |
||
| Cramlington Village |
3715 |
||
| Cramlington South East |
3284 |
||
| Cramlington East |
4164 |
||
| Cramlington Eastfield |
3885 |
||
| Cramlington North |
4220 |
||
| Holywell |
4043 |
||
| Seghill with Seaton Delaval |
4211 |
||
| Valley |
8054 |
||
| Blyth & Ashington | 75304 | South Blyth |
3381 |
| Wensleydale |
3362 |
||
| Plessey |
3496 |
||
| Isabella |
3378 |
||
| Cowpen |
3383 |
||
| Croft |
3310 |
||
| Newsham |
3396 |
||
| Kitty Brewster |
3980 |
||
| Bedlington Central |
3383 |
||
| Bedlington West |
4359 |
||
| Bedlington East |
3446 |
||
| Sleekburn |
3040 |
||
| Stakeford |
3766 |
||
| Bothal |
3576 |
||
| Newbiggin Central and East |
3765 |
||
| Hirst |
3540 |
||
| Ashington Central |
3717 |
||
| Haydon |
3711 |
||
| College |
3741 |
||
| Seaton with Newbiggin West |
3531 |
||
| Hartley |
4043 |
Version 2
Advantages:
- No orphan wards
- Choppington ward in Ashington seat
- Wallsend not divided between seats
- Tynemouth seat same as current (2010) seat
- No change to Commission’s proposed Gateshead seats
Disadvantages:
- Berwick seat is larger
Changes compared to Commission’s revised proposals:
From Durham NW to Hexham: Chopwell
From Hexham to Berwick: Bellingham
From Berwick to Blyth & Ashington: Choppington
From Blyth & Ashington to Cramlington: Seghill, Hartley
Revised electorates:
Hexham 79,014
Berwick 72,891
Blyth & Ashington 74,892
Other seats:
| Constituency | Electorate | Ward | Electorate |
| Newcastle Newburn | 76805 | Castle |
7497 |
| Woolsington |
7837 |
||
| Newburn |
7065 |
||
| Westerhope |
7600 |
||
| Denton |
7805 |
||
| Lemington |
7461 |
||
| Benwell and Scotswood |
8473 |
||
| Elswick |
7231 |
||
| Fenham |
7908 |
||
| Blakelaw |
7928 |
||
| Newcastle Gosforth | 80396 | Kenton |
8032 |
| Fawdon |
7169 |
||
| Parklands |
7670 |
||
| West Gosforth |
7437 |
||
| East Gosforth |
7297 |
||
| Dene |
7507 |
||
| North Jesmond |
7337 |
||
| Wingrove |
8047 |
||
| Westgate |
5739 |
||
| Ouseburn |
7158 |
||
| South Jesmond |
7003 |
||
| Wallsend & Walker | 75342 | Byker |
6953 |
| South Heaton |
6943 |
||
| North Heaton |
7698 |
||
| Walker |
7527 |
||
| Walkergate |
7077 |
||
| Wallsend |
7766 |
||
| Northumberland |
6860 |
||
| Battle Hill |
8331 |
||
| Howdon |
8257 |
||
| Riverside |
7930 |
||
| Tynemouth | 76618 | Chirton |
8267 |
| Preston |
7040 |
||
| Tynemouth |
8407 |
||
| Collingwood |
8578 |
||
| Cullercoats |
7513 |
||
| Monkseaton South |
7686 |
||
| Whitley Bay |
7168 |
||
| Monkseaton North |
6996 |
||
| St Mary’s |
6909 |
||
| Valley |
8054 |
||
| Cramlington & Longbenton | 74960 | Longbenton |
8147 |
| Benton |
7863 |
||
| Killingworth |
7935 |
||
| Camperdown |
7882 |
||
| Weetslade |
7646 |
||
| Cramlington West |
3922 |
||
| Cramlington North |
4220 |
||
| Cramlington Village |
3715 |
||
| Cramlington South East |
3284 |
||
| Cramlington East |
4164 |
||
| Seghill with Seaton Delaval |
4211 |
||
| Holywell |
4043 |
||
| Hartley |
4043 |
||
| Cramlington Eastfield |
3885 |
Locus 
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