27th September 2011

The Boundary Commission recently proposed a new map of parliamentary constituencies in what is the biggest shake up of seats in modern times.  The Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Act will reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600.  That may chime with public opinion, as might the idea of equalisation of constituencies – meaning every MP would represent the same number of electors. But dig  more deeply and problems arise.  For example there may be fewer MPs  but at the same time the Government has appointed more Lords and wants elected police commissioners.

Even equalisation of elector depends on the number on the electoral register but not everyone registers to vote.  Perhaps, more controversially, 600  happens to be the number which most damages to the Labour Party.

The Boundary Commission should, according to the Act, take into consideration existing seats, local authority boundaries and community links.  But because it is a mathematical exercise the new maps  have unintended consequences.  The existing Tynemouth seat  is already the right size, wholly within one local authority boundary and made up of communities that do share common links.  Instead it will be broken up, with a new seat around Whitley Bay which needs to go into Northumberland and further inland to get sufficient electors.  The southern part of the Tynemouth seat including Tynemouth itself and part of North Shields goes into a new seat which comes from the mouth of the Tyne to the middle of Newcastle.  Tynemouth Village must have more in common with Cullercoats, as in the existing seat, rather than with Byker as the changes propose.

The current plans are subject only to a quick public hearing, Then the proposals will be voted on in Parliament in time for the next election.  Ominously this process will take place every five years and could be equally disruptive next time.   I hope you will have your say and make your views on the proposals known.

Alan Campbell MP

Tynemouth