Wednesday 18 July 2018

Changing boundaries can change an area's politics

Last week, the House of Commons Library published a FAQ page on the current parliamentary boundaries review. It looks as if the Order instituting the changes will be made this autumn after a process more drawn-out than usual. It was muttered in Westminster that the reduction in the number of constituencies might affect some senior Conservative figures. If so, it appears that these fears have either been assuaged - or a compensatory peerage promised.

How changes to boundaries in an area can affect the political colour of the MPs returned in first-past-the-post elections is illustrated by the "gerrymander wheel" produced by STV Action. Their answer, producing more political stability, is naturally STV in multi-member constituencies, which I agree with.

No comments: