Michael has welcomed the Boundary Review proposals that largely maintain the current borders of his Sevenoaks constituency.
Revised proposals for the shape of parliamentary seats were published Tuesday (17/10) by the Boundary Commission for England. Under the new proposals, the Sevenoaks constituency will gain the Wrotham, Ightham and Stansted ward from Tonbridge, bringing the size of the Sevenoaks electorate to 72,561.
The review aims to make constituencies more equal in size. Parliament approved the principle of reducing the size of the House of Commons in 2011. If the majority of MPs support Tuesday’s detailed plans, the proposed new constituencies will take effect in 2022.
Michael said: ‘I warned the Commission about moving wards out of my constituency, and happily they have listened. Instead of losing constituents, I am set to gain. It is right that the fundamental shape of the Sevenoaks constituency is respected.’
The proposals are now open to a public consultation until 11 December 2017. Comments can be made via https://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6488.
Michael will support the proposals, but once again he will also request that the name of the constituency be formally recognised as ‘Sevenoaks & Swanley’.