Boundary Commission publishes proposals to split Wakefield district

The Boundary Commission published its initial proposals on changes to the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies on 12 September. The commission has proposed to split Wakefield district into 5 separate constituencies: These will be called Dewsbury and Wakefield West, Hemsworth and Wakefield South, Wakefield East and Pontefract, Leeds South and Outwood, and Selby and Castleford.

The Boundary Commission is asking the public for their views on the proposals until 5 December. View the plans and have your say here: consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk

The changes are being made as a result of the government’s Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011. This Act provides for the number of parliamentary constituencies in England to reduce from 533 to 502. Labour MPs voted against the legislation as it was a transparent attempt by the Conservatives to gain a party political advantage over Labour. The Bill effectively removes the requirement that the Boundary Commission take account of history, local ties or geography when redrawing seats by ensuring that the number of electors in each seat be the top consideration.

Mary said: “The Boundary Commission’s initial proposals split Wakefield district into 5 seats which is bad news. My Labour colleagues and I will continue to oppose the Tory-led government’s blatant attempt to gain party political advantage by cutting parliamentary seats while creating dozens of new Conservative peers. The decision to split Wakefield city centre between seats is perverse and will cause a great deal of confusion. It will make it more difficult for MPs to adequately represent their constituents. I want to assure Wakefield constituents that I will continue to work hard on their behalf right up to the next General Election, whatever the Boundary Commission eventually decides.”