Top MPs at risk in Commons cull

12 September 2011 Last updated at 22:02 ET

There will be 50 fewer MPs after the next election

Some of the most high-profile MPs in Parliament face seeing their seats disappear as part of a far-reaching shake-up of the Commons map in 2015.

Among those whose constituencies may be carved up are Ken Clarke, Chris Huhne and Tessa Jowell.

The proposals are part of a move to cut the total number of MPs by 50 to 600 in time for the next general election.

The plans will be subject to two years of consultation before being finalised in October 2013.

Under plans approved by Parliament in February, England, Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland will all see their parliamentary representation reduced after the next election, due in May 2015.

The government believes a smaller Commons will lower the cost of politics while the system will be fairer as the number of registered voters in each constituency will be more uniform.

Independent recommendations

But some Labour MPs have accused the coalition of gerrymandering while some Lib Dems are reported to be unhappy about the prospect of losing seats in the shake-up – agreed as a package earlier this year in combination with May’s referendum on the voting system.

The recommendations cover English constituencies only.

Separate proposals are being published on Tuesday for Northern Ireland, with plans for Scotland and Wales to follow in the coming months.

The Boundary Commission for England has given details of all 502 constituencies, broken down into nine English regions, in which elections are likely to be held in 2015.

The full details of allocated English seats, compared to 2010, are:

• South East England: 83 seats (-1)
• North West England: 68 (-7)
• London – 68 seats (-5)
• Eastern England: 56 seats (-2)
• Yorkshire and Humber: 50 seats (-4)
• West Midlands: 54 seats (-5)
• South West England: 53 seats (-2)
• East Midlands: 44 seats (-2)
• North East England: 26 seats (-3)

Senior figures from all parties are likely to be affected by the changes.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s existing Rushcliffe constituency in Nottinghamshire would cease to exist in its current form under the plans.

Its voters would split between four proposed seats – Broxtowe, Coalville and Keyworth, Newark and Nottingham South and West Bridgford.

Chancellor George Osborne’s Tatton constituency in Cheshire would also disappear, with its voters divided between the newly proposed seat of Northwich and existing Tory-held Macclesfield.

Labour fights

Shadow Cabinet members Ed Balls and Hilary Benn could face a fight for one seat if their constituencies in West Yorkshire are partly amalgamated.

Mr Benn’s Leeds Central constituency would effectively be abolished, with 45% of its voters transferred to the new constituency of Leeds South and Outwood.

The shadow chancellor’s existing Morley and Outwood constituency would also be redrawn, with more than half of its existing voters transferring to Leeds South and Outwood.

As part of major changes in London, the Dulwich and West Norwood seat of former Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell would disappear and be split into three while frontbencher Chuka Umunna would see his Streatham seat divided up four ways.

Under the outline proposals, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg’s Sheffield Hallam seat will be redesignated as Sheffield West and Penistone.

The deputy prime minister is expected to face a strong Labour challenge at the 2015 poll.

Other Lib Dems who could be under pressure include Chris Huhne, Vince Cable and Tim Farron.

Energy Secretary Mr Huhne’s Eastleigh constituency would be split in two under the plans, with nearly half its voters transferring to the newly proposed Hedge End and Hamble seat.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham, could potentially find himself up against millionaire Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park, if they both choose to fight the newly proposed Richmond and Twickenham seat.

Options for MPs

A handful of MPs face the prospect of their existing constituencies being divided up five ways. These include Tories Philip Davies (MP for Shipley) and Nigel Adams (MP for Selby and Ainsty).

But Conservative leader David Cameron, MP for Witney, and Labour leader Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North, are among 77 people whose constituencies would be unaffected by the changes.

Others whose seats remain wholly intact include Home Secretary Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, MP for South West Surrey.

MPs whose constituencies are set to be effectively abolished will have to find another seat to contest if they wish to remain in Parliament, leading to a fierce scramble in the run-up to the next election.

Options open to them include applying for selection in a new seat whose boundaries closely resemble their old one or going up against another MP for the right to represent a different seat.

Another option for MPs is to succeed any MP who chooses to retire and not stand again in 2015.

‘Clear rules’

MPs will be able to “appeal” against the provisional changes during a 12-week consultation taking place between now and December.

The Boundary Commission will publish revised proposals next year which will also be subject to exhaustive consultation before finally being submitted to Parliament for approval by October 2013.

It is encouraging the public to engage with the process and give their feedback on its proposals during a series of open hearings in October and November.

“Parliament has set clear rules on what we can and can’t do when it comes to developing our initial proposals,” said the Commission’s chief executive Simon James.

“The Commission was given clear principles and from that starting point we have found a solution that we think best meets Parliament’s rules.

“Now we want to know what people think of our initial proposals.”

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