Initial Proposals for New Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in the East Midlands Contents
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Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the East Midlands Contents Summary 3 1 What is the Boundary Commission for England? 5 2 Background to the 2018 Review 7 3 Initial proposals for the East Midlands 11 Initial proposals for the Lincolnshire sub‑region 12 Initial proposals for the Derbyshire sub‑region 13 Initial proposals for the Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, 14 Rutland and Northamptonshire sub‑region 4 How to have your say 19 Annex A: Initial proposals for constituencies, 23 including wards and electorates Glossary 39 Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the East Midlands 1 Summary Who we are and what we do What is changing in the East Midlands? The Boundary Commission for England is an independent and impartial The East Midlands has been allocated 44 non‑departmental public body which is constituencies – a reduction of two from responsible for reviewing Parliamentary the current number. constituency boundaries in England. Our proposals leave seven of the 46 The 2018 Review existing constituencies unchanged. We have the task of periodically reviewing As it has not always been possible to the boundaries of all the Parliamentary allocate whole numbers of constituencies constituencies in England. We are currently to individual counties, we have grouped conducting a review on the basis of rules some county and local authority areas set by Parliament in 2011. The rules tell into sub‑regions. The number of us that we must make recommendations constituencies allocated to each sub‑region for new Parliamentary constituency is determined by the electorate of the boundaries in September 2018. They combined local authorities. also result in a significant reduction in the number of constituencies in England In Lincolnshire, two of the existing seven (from 533 to 501), and require that every constituencies are unchanged, while constituency – apart from two specified two constituencies are changed due exceptions – must have an electorate that to changes to local government ward is no smaller than 71,031 and no larger boundaries. than 78,507. More substantial change is required, Initial proposals however, in other parts of the region. We published our initial proposals for Consequently, it has been necessary to the new Parliamentary constituency propose some constituencies that cross boundaries in England on 13 September county or unitary authority boundaries. 2016. Information about the proposed constituencies is now available on our website. Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the East Midlands 3 Sub‑region Existing allocation Proposed allocation Lincolnshire 7 7 Derbyshire 11 10 Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 28 27 In Derbyshire, we have proposed that the How to have your say City of Derby and the county of Derbyshire be grouped to form a sub‑region. We have We are consulting on our initial proposals proposed three constituencies that include for a 12‑week period, from 13 September wards from both authorities. 2016 to 5 December 2016. We encourage everyone to use this opportunity to help In Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and us shape the new constituencies – the Northamptonshire, it has been necessary more views we hear, the more informed our to propose two constituencies that cross decisions will be when considering whether county boundaries. We have proposed one to revise our proposals. constituency that contains electors from both Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, Our website at www.bce2018.org.uk has which combines the towns of Daventry more information about how to respond as and Lutterworth, and another that contains well as details of where and when we will electors from both Nottinghamshire and be holding public hearings in your area. Leicestershire, combining the town of You can also follow us on Twitter @BCE2018 Loughborough and the southern part of or using #2018boundaryreview. Rushcliffe Borough. 4 Boundary Commission for England 1 What is the Boundary Commission for England? 1 The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is an independent and You can find further information on our impartial non‑departmental public body website, at www.bce2018.org.uk. You which is required to review Parliamentary can also contact us with any general constituency boundaries in England. We enquiries by emailing information@ conduct a review of all the constituencies boundarycommissionengland.gov.uk, in England every five years. Our role is to or by calling 020 7276 1102. make recommendations to Parliament for new constituency boundaries. 2 The Chair of the Commission is the Speaker of the House of Commons, but by convention he does not participate in the review. The current Deputy Chair, Mrs Justice Patterson, and two further Commissioners, take decisions on proposals and recommendations for new constituency boundaries. Further information about the Commissioners can be found on our website.1 1 At www.bce2018.org.uk Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the East Midlands 5 2 Background to the 2018 Review 3 We are currently conducting a review 5 This is a significant change to the old of Parliamentary constituency boundaries rules under which Parliamentary boundary on the basis of rules set by Parliament in reviews took place, in which achieving as 2011. 2 These rules require us to reduce the close to the average number of electors number of constituencies in the UK and in each constituency was an aim, but make more equal the number of electors in there was no statutory fixed permissible each constituency. This report covers only range. For example, in England, existing the work of the Boundary Commission for constituencies (drawn under the previous England (there are separate Commissions rules) currently range from 54,232 to for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) 105,448 electors. Furthermore, the current and, in particular, introduces our initial constituencies were constructed under the proposals for the East Midlands. last completed review, which relied on the data contained in the electoral registers for 4 The rules set out in the legislation 2000 and applied the earlier version of the state that there will be 600 Parliamentary rules. Achieving a more even distribution constituencies covering the UK – a of electors in every constituency across reduction of 50 from the current England, together with the reduction in number. This means that the number of the total number of constituencies, means constituencies in England must be reduced that a significant amount of change to the from 533 to 501. There are also other existing map of constituencies is inevitable. rules that the Commission has regard to when conducting the review – a full set 6 Our Guide to the 2018 Review of the rules can be found in our Guide to contains further detailed background the 2018 Review3 published in summer information, and explains all the policies 2016, but they are also summarised later and procedures that we are following in in this chapter. Most significantly, the rules conducting the review. We encourage require every constituency we recommend anyone wishing to be involved in the review (with the exception of two covering the Isle to read this document, which will give them of Wight) to contain no fewer than 71,031 a greater understanding of the rules and electors and no more than 78,507. constraints placed on the Commission, especially if they are intending to comment on our initial proposals. 2 The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, available at www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/1/contents 3 Available at www.bce2018.org.uk and at all places of deposit Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the East Midlands 7 The rules in the legislation 9 Although the first review under the new rules will unavoidably result in 7 As well as the primary rule that significant change, we have also taken constituencies must have no fewer than into account the boundaries of existing 71,031 electors and no more than 78,507, constituencies so far as we can. We have the legislation also states that, when tried to retain existing constituencies deciding on boundaries, the Commission as part of our initial proposals wherever may also take into account: possible, as long as the other factors can also be satisfied. This, however, has • special geographical considerations, proved difficult. Our initial proposals retain including in particular the size, shape just over 15% of the existing constituencies and accessibility of a constituency; in the East Midlands – the remainder are • local government boundaries as they new constituencies (although in a number existed on 7 May 2015; of cases we have been able to limit the • boundaries of existing constituencies; changes to existing constituencies, making and only minor changes as necessary to enable • any local ties that would be broken by us to comply with the rules). changes in constituencies. 10 Our proposals are based on the nine 8 In addition, in relation to local regions used for European elections (though government boundaries in particular, it it should be clear that our work has no should be noted that we are obliged to take effect on European electoral matters, nor is into account local government boundaries it affected by the recent referendum result). as they existed in May 2015, rather than any This report relates to the East Midlands. subsequent changes that may have been There are eight other separate reports made (or are due to be made). Our initial containing our initial proposals for the other proposals for the East Midlands (and the regions. You can find more details on our accompanying maps) are therefore based on website. While this approach does not local government boundaries as they existed prevent anyone from making proposals in May 2015. Our Guide to the 2018 Review to us that cross regional boundaries (for outlines further our policy on how, and to example, between the East Midlands and what extent, we take into account local the West Midlands regions), very compelling government boundaries.