Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies
Encyclopedia
The Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, also known as the 2013 Review, is an ongoing process by which parliamentary constituencies to the British House of Commons
will be reformed, to comply with the revised rules for the number and size of constituencies introduced by the Coalition government
. The reviews are required to be completed by October 2013.
The process was launched on 4 March 2011 by the Boundary Commission for England, Boundary Commission for Scotland, Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland and Boundary Commission for Wales.
The changes are being implemented by virtue of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, which amends the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986
. Part II of the Act (henceforth referred to as 'PVSaCA') deals with the amendments to the manner in which British House of Commons
constituencies are formed by the individual Boundary Commissions.
Each Commission must present a Final Report to the Secretary of State before 1 October 2013 [by virtue of Section 10, Clause 3, which amends Subsection 2 of Section 3 of the 1986 Act).
The process has not been without its controversy. A spokesperson for the opposition Labour
Party told the BBC "political motives" were behind the changes. Labour's former Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ann McKechin, called the process "gerrymandering
"., whilst her successor Margaret Curran criticised "Nick Clegg's plan to gerrymander Scotland". Former Conservative Minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind
labelled the proposals "a muddle". Labour MP for Preston, Mark Hendrick
, labelled the proposals "gerrymandering to curry political persuasion".
PVSaCA requires there to be exactly 600 parliamentary constituencies (Schedule 2, clause 1) — a reduction of 50 from the total fought at the United Kingdom general election, 2010. This is the first time a precise number has been included in legislation, and the commissions have no freedom to vary the number.
With a few specified exceptions for island areas (see below), the size (electorate) of all constituencies must be within 5% above or below the target number. Again, there is no leeway given to the commissions.
The first review must be completed by 2013 so that a general election held in 2015 will be contested on the new boundaries. The legislation requires a review every five years after that date, rather than every 12 to 15 years previously. To ensure this timetable is achievable, the reviews will take place over the whole country simultaneously, rather than being phased over several years as in the past.
For example, the Boundary Commission for England states in its newsletter; "The Commission wishes to make very clear that those with an interest in the review process should understand that the defined number of constituencies and the 5% electoral parity target are statutory requirements that it must apply and that it has absolutely no discretion in respect of either matter."
The quota does not apply if the area of a constituency is larger than 12000 sqkm (new Schedule 2, Rule 4(2)). No constituency can be larger than 13000 sqkm (new Schedule 2, Rule 4(1)).
Amongst the proposals, current Prime Minister David Cameron (Witney) and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband (Doncaster North) see their seats remain intact with no changes. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg sees Sheffield Hallam altered into the proposed "Sheffield West and Penistone".
The Isle of Wight is divided into two almost equal halves. The so-called Devonwall
constituency, sharing wards between neighbouring Devon and Cornwall, is suggested as "Bideford and Bude".
's seat of Ross, Skye and Lochaber
is divided between three other seats covering the Highlands
, and Argyll and Bute
. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
sees his current seat
also redrawn into a newly configured "Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes". Public consultation closes in January 2012.
The Boundary Commission for Wales, confirming it did not split electoral divisions/wards during the Third, Fourth, or Fifth Periodic Reviews, aims not to do so again this time. In those circumstances where it would be difficult or impossible to avoid splitting wards, it aims to use entire Community council
s or wards thereof.
The Scottish Commission expects few, if any, existing constituencies will remain unchanged and new seats will "probably not" all be constructed from complete electoral wards. The Northern Ireland Commission expects "few, if any" constituencies to remain the same.
In each part of the UK, the relevant commission will first publish "Provisional Proposals", which will be accessible on the Web and can be viewed at local council offices. The English Commission published proposals for the whole country in the week of 12 September 2011; the Scottish proposals were released on 13 October 2011. Mid-January 2012 is the intended start date for the Welsh Commission
There will then be a 12-week period from the moment of publication during which the public can comment on the proposals, whether supporting, opposing or suggesting an alternative. During this period, public hearings held across the country allow those representations to be made in public: all written comments received are made public after the end of the 12 week period.
The Commission then considers all representations, and the resulting Revised Recommendations are published for further public consultation (8 weeks), though there is no second public hearing. The Commission will then decide on its final proposals.
The Scottish commission has given the following expected timetable; it is likely that the timings in the three other countries will be similar. The English commission has confirmed its public consultations shall commence on 11 October in Manchester, and conclude on the 17/18 November in Darlington, and Exeter.
The four Commissions must present their reports by October 2013 and the new boundaries will be in place for a May 2015 general election
.
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
will be reformed, to comply with the revised rules for the number and size of constituencies introduced by the Coalition government
Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement
The Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement was a policy document drawn up following the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom...
. The reviews are required to be completed by October 2013.
The process was launched on 4 March 2011 by the Boundary Commission for England, Boundary Commission for Scotland, Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland and Boundary Commission for Wales.
The changes are being implemented by virtue of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, which amends the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986
Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986
The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the legislation defining the constitution and work of the 4 parliamentary Boundary Commissions in the UK...
. Part II of the Act (henceforth referred to as 'PVSaCA') deals with the amendments to the manner in which British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituencies are formed by the individual Boundary Commissions.
Each Commission must present a Final Report to the Secretary of State before 1 October 2013 [by virtue of Section 10, Clause 3, which amends Subsection 2 of Section 3 of the 1986 Act).
The process has not been without its controversy. A spokesperson for the opposition Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Party told the BBC "political motives" were behind the changes. Labour's former Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ann McKechin, called the process "gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
"., whilst her successor Margaret Curran criticised "Nick Clegg's plan to gerrymander Scotland". Former Conservative Minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Malcolm Rifkind
Sir Malcolm Leslie Rifkind KCMG QC MP is a British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament for Kensington. He served in various roles as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Secretary of State for Scotland , Defence Secretary and...
labelled the proposals "a muddle". Labour MP for Preston, Mark Hendrick
Mark Hendrick
Mark Phillip Hendrick is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Preston since winning a by-election in 2000.-Biography:Hendrick, who is half Somali, was born in Salford, Lancashire...
, labelled the proposals "gerrymandering to curry political persuasion".
Changes to review process
The legislation makes several significant changes to the way constituencies are reviewed:- Number of constituencies:
PVSaCA requires there to be exactly 600 parliamentary constituencies (Schedule 2, clause 1) — a reduction of 50 from the total fought at the United Kingdom general election, 2010. This is the first time a precise number has been included in legislation, and the commissions have no freedom to vary the number.
- More equal constituencies:
With a few specified exceptions for island areas (see below), the size (electorate) of all constituencies must be within 5% above or below the target number. Again, there is no leeway given to the commissions.
- More frequent and faster reviews
The first review must be completed by 2013 so that a general election held in 2015 will be contested on the new boundaries. The legislation requires a review every five years after that date, rather than every 12 to 15 years previously. To ensure this timetable is achievable, the reviews will take place over the whole country simultaneously, rather than being phased over several years as in the past.
Protected constituencies
Four constituencies are 'protected' by PVSaCA. They are;- Orkney and ShetlandOrkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)Orkney and Shetland is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
- Na h-Eileanan an IarNa h-Eileanan an Iar (UK Parliament constituency)Na h-Eileanan an Iar is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, created in 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
- Two seats within the boundaries of the Isle of WightIsle of WightThe Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
Number of seats
The total of 600 constituencies required by the Act were allocated between the four countries of the UK as shown in the table below. The English Boundary Commission then announced that the number of constituencies allocated to England would be sub-divided by region, with the aim of producing "initial proposals in which each constituency is wholly contained within a single region". The seats allocated to each region are also shown below.Across the United Kingdom
| Nation | 2010 Seats | Electorate | Allocation | Change | Average size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England * | 532 | 38,332,557 | 500 | –32 | 76,665 |
| (Isle of Wight) | 1 | 110,924 | 2 | +1 | 55,462 |
| Northern Ireland | 18 | 1,190,635 | 16 | –2 | 74,415 |
| Scotland * | 57 | 3,873,387 | 50 | –7 | 77,468 |
| (Orkney and Shetland) | 1 | 33,755 | 1 | — | 33,755 |
| (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) | 1 | 21,837 | 1 | — | 21,837 |
| Wales | 40 | 2,281,596 | 30 | –10 | 76,053 |
| Total | 650 | 45,844,691 | 600 | −50 | 76,408 |
- * Excluding the protected island areas
Across the regions of England
| Region | 2010 Seats | Electorate | Allocation | Change | Average size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 58 | 4,280,707 | 56 | –2 | 76,441 |
| East Midlands | 46 | 3,361,089 | 44 | –2 | 76,388 |
| London | 73 | 5,266,904 | 68 | –5 | 77,454 |
| North East | 29 | 1,971,249 | 26 | –3 | 75,817 |
| North West | 75 | 5,253,019 | 68 | –7 | 77,250 |
| South East * | 83 | 6,192,504 | 81 | –2 | 76,450 |
| South West | 55 | 4,042,475 | 53 | –2 | 76,273 |
| West Midlands | 59 | 4,115,668 | 54 | –5 | 76,216 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 54 | 3,848,942 | 50 | –4 | 76,979 |
| (Isle of Wight) | 1 | 110,924 | 2 | +1 | 55,462 |
| Total | 533 | 38,443,481 | 502 | –31 | 76,581 |
- * Excluding the protected Isle of Wight
Practical considerations
The four Commissions have published descriptions of how they will carry out their work, and held meetings with representatives of political parties to explain their approach in the light of the more restrictive rules to which they have to work.For example, the Boundary Commission for England states in its newsletter; "The Commission wishes to make very clear that those with an interest in the review process should understand that the defined number of constituencies and the 5% electoral parity target are statutory requirements that it must apply and that it has absolutely no discretion in respect of either matter."
Size of constituencies
In Great Britain, constituencies can have no less an electorate than 72,810 and no more than 80,473. The quota in Northern Ireland is slightly different, with a fixed minimum of 70,583 and a fixed maximum of 80,473.The quota does not apply if the area of a constituency is larger than 12000 sqkm (new Schedule 2, Rule 4(2)). No constituency can be larger than 13000 sqkm (new Schedule 2, Rule 4(1)).
England
The Boundary Commission for England released its "Initial Proposals" to the public on Tuesday, 13 September. Across the country, not one single electoral ward was divided.Amongst the proposals, current Prime Minister David Cameron (Witney) and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband (Doncaster North) see their seats remain intact with no changes. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg sees Sheffield Hallam altered into the proposed "Sheffield West and Penistone".
The Isle of Wight is divided into two almost equal halves. The so-called Devonwall
Devonwall (possible UK Parliament constituency)
Devonwall is a jocular name used in 2010 for a possible constituency that would combine parts of Devon and Cornwall and would be represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
constituency, sharing wards between neighbouring Devon and Cornwall, is suggested as "Bideford and Bude".
Scotland
The Initial Proposal documentation from the Boundary Commission for Scotland was released at midnight on 13 October 2011. Amongst their proposals were six prefixed by the word "Glasgow", a reduction of one across the city. Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles KennedyCharles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
's seat of Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Ross, Skye and Lochaber (UK Parliament constituency)
Ross, Skye and Lochaber is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
is divided between three other seats covering the Highlands
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
, and Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
sees his current seat
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath is a county constituency representing the areas around the towns of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, in Fife, Scotland, in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
also redrawn into a newly configured "Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes". Public consultation closes in January 2012.
Northern Ireland
On 13 September 2011, the Northern Ireland Commission proposed to reduce the number of Belfast seats by one, and create a newly formed "Glenshane", named after the Glenshane PassGlenshane Pass
The Glenshane Pass is a major mountain pass cutting through the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is in the townland of Glenshane on the main Derry to Belfast route, the A6.-Features:It is a Special Area of Conservation...
Composition of constituencies
Westminster constituencies are usually created by combining entire electoral wards. For the 2013 Review, the Boundary Commission for England says in its newsletter that whilst it had used entire electoral wards in the past, the new legislation and fixed electorate quota makes that harder. Therefore it aims to use polling districts in circumstances where using entire wards is not possible, and has said "it is prepared to take into account as appropriate any new ward boundaries that have been introduced after 6 May 2010". The English Commission outlined that it was "focused on getting all constituencies within the statutory range, rather than as close as possible to the electoral quota figure itself".The Boundary Commission for Wales, confirming it did not split electoral divisions/wards during the Third, Fourth, or Fifth Periodic Reviews, aims not to do so again this time. In those circumstances where it would be difficult or impossible to avoid splitting wards, it aims to use entire Community council
Community council
A community council is a public representative body in Great Britain.In England they may be statutory parish councils by another name, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, or they may be non-statutory bodies...
s or wards thereof.
The Scottish Commission expects few, if any, existing constituencies will remain unchanged and new seats will "probably not" all be constructed from complete electoral wards. The Northern Ireland Commission expects "few, if any" constituencies to remain the same.
Timetable
Each of the four Commissions has adopted consistent procedures for developing their boundary proposals, starting with the simultaneous announcements in March 2011 starting the review process.In each part of the UK, the relevant commission will first publish "Provisional Proposals", which will be accessible on the Web and can be viewed at local council offices. The English Commission published proposals for the whole country in the week of 12 September 2011; the Scottish proposals were released on 13 October 2011. Mid-January 2012 is the intended start date for the Welsh Commission
There will then be a 12-week period from the moment of publication during which the public can comment on the proposals, whether supporting, opposing or suggesting an alternative. During this period, public hearings held across the country allow those representations to be made in public: all written comments received are made public after the end of the 12 week period.
The Commission then considers all representations, and the resulting Revised Recommendations are published for further public consultation (8 weeks), though there is no second public hearing. The Commission will then decide on its final proposals.
The Scottish commission has given the following expected timetable; it is likely that the timings in the three other countries will be similar. The English commission has confirmed its public consultations shall commence on 11 October in Manchester, and conclude on the 17/18 November in Darlington, and Exeter.
- Start of review : March 2011
- Initial Proposals consultation (12 weeks) : September/October 2011 – January 2012
- Public Hearings : October/ November 2011
- Scrutiny of representations: Spring 2012
- Revised Proposals consultation (8 weeks) : November 2012 – January 2013
- Report submission : Summer 2013
The four Commissions must present their reports by October 2013 and the new boundaries will be in place for a May 2015 general election
Next United Kingdom general election
The United Kingdom general election of 2010 was held on Thursday 6 May 2010 to elect members to the House of Commons. The election took place in 650 constituencies across the United Kingdom under the first-past-the-post system. None of the parties achieved the 326 seats needed for an overall majority...
.