Have your say on plans to make Warwick's constituency smaller

By James Smith 12th Mar 2022

The proposed constituency changes could see 11,000 people added to the Kenilworth electorate (Image by Richard Smith and Boundary Commission)
The proposed constituency changes could see 11,000 people added to the Kenilworth electorate (Image by Richard Smith and Boundary Commission)

Warwick residents are being encouraged to share their views on plans to expand the town's parliamentary constituency.

Current suggestions would see the Kenilworth and Southam constituency take Hatton, Hampton Magna, Sherbourne, Barford and Wasperton from Warwick and Leamington.

As the map below shows, the changes would see Warwick and Leamington completely surrounded by Kenilworth and Southam.

Whilst the former would take Old Milverton and Blackdown in the opposite direction, Kenilworth's electorate would grow from 63,000 to 74,000.

The current Kenilworth and Southam Constituency in blue (left), and the proposed changes in red (Image via Boundary Commission)

The number of constituencies in the West Midlands could also drop from 59 to 57.

Plans were first revealed last June and a second public consultation is currently underway to gauge local opinion.

MP for Kenilworth and Southam Jeremy Wright has already welcomed the 'minimum disruption' presented by the government's proposals.

"These proposals from the Boundary Commission reflect an intention to make constituencies across the UK roughly the same size, which is an objective I support," he said.

"Some change to the Kenilworth and Southam constituency was inevitable to achieve that and it seems to me the Boundary Commission proposals in Warwickshire achieve this objective with minimal disruption, though I appreciate that this will be a confusing change for some."

But Budbrooke councillors said they would rather remain under Labour MP Matt Western in Warwick and Leamington, rather than be transferred to Mr Wright's Tory constituency.

The first consultation was held last summer, with the current one running until April 4.

Final recommendations are due by 1 July 2023, after which the government has four months to alter the plans.

Click here to have your say.

     

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