Parliament has voted to reduce the cost of politics by reducing the number of MPs from 650 to 600.
This means increasing the size of many constituencies, and reducing the size of some others, to make sure everyone is represented and to make sure that each constituency in the country is roughly the same size, something which is certainly not the case right now. Some constituencies can have only 40,000 residents, others can have close to 100,000, and this situation is clearly unfair.
A few weeks ago I attended a hearing in Northampton with the Boundary Commission and spoke in support of their proposals for the town’s parliamentary boundaries.
The Boundary Commission for England has produced a report proposing that my constituency, Northampton North, should be expanded south and east, and importantly should in future include the whole of Abington, rather than part of Abington as is currently the case. It also proposes to take up Park Ward and Billing Ward which are currently in Northampton South. There is also a proposal to take the whole of the Eastern District into Northampton North where most of it already is, and incorporate Riverside Ward.
These proposals, drafted by the independent Boundary Commission, seem to me to be very sensible as they make a lot of geographical and historical sense.
If you would like to hear more about this and would like to take part in the consultation (which closes on 5th December) please email me for more details on michael.ellis.mp@parliament.uk