Will turkeys vote for Christmas?
A few of Cornwall's MPs tell me my previous blog post about a possible consequence of the Parliamentary Reform Bill, as outlined in the Queen's Speech, has put them on "high alert" to fight any suggestion that parts of their existing constituencies might be lost to Devon.
The Boundary Commission is waiting to see what the draft legislation looks like but we do know what the various bits of the coalition government were thinking before the recent general election.
Both Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties want every constituency to contain roughly equal numbers of voters. For example, each of Cornwall's six MPs currently represents more people than their two counterparts in Plymouth.
Before the election, the were looking to cut the number of MPs by 10 per cent (65 constituencies.) The were looking for a cut of 23 per cent (150 constituencies.) A happy compromise would be around 16 or 17 per cent, which would spell the end for about one in six of our MPs. Any volunteers?
The Queen's Speech promised the Parliamentary Reform Bill would enable the Boundary Commission to complete its work during the current Parliament, before the next general election on 7th May 2015. Nick Clegg has taken personal responsibility for this Bill, which the Boundary Commission expects to see in draft form "very soon."
I'm ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 3rd Jun 2010, Jude Robinson wrote:Can anyone explain how reducing the number of MPs will improve representation or improve accountability? The number of unelected peers is still rising, House of Lords reform and a referendum on the voting system are areas where democratic accountability and public input can be improved but there is no enthusiasm for either, just a vague, hand wafting gesture of 'sometime or other'.
Meanwhile, profoundly undemocratic measures are taking precedence in order to protect the coalition of election losers. Five year fixed terms, 55% vote to dissolve parliament, redrawing boundaries, rebalancing the appointed House of Lords...........
How is this the 'new politics' we were promised?
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Comment number 2.
At 3rd Jun 2010, Stephen Richardson wrote:Perhaps you're right Jude - it's still just as bad as it was under labour - the only difference is who its rigged to favour.
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