The Boundary Commission won’t be holding a public hearing on the Isle of Wight over the proposed new parliamentary constituencies, despite a major change heading our way.
The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is holding a secondary consultation on its initial proposals from 22nd February to 4th April, during which 32 public hearings will take place across England to allow the public to provide feedback in person.
However, no such meeting will be held here on the Isle of Wight. The nearest will be in Portsmouth on 17th and 18th March.
A spokesperson has said:
“We have chosen our public hearing locations to take into consideration both where we had a significant volume of responses during our first consultation period, and to make them as widely geographically accessible as possible within the region.”
The Commission is required by Parliament to undertake an independent and impartial review of all constituencies in England, to rebalance the number of electors in each constituency. The 2023 Boundary Review also requires that the number of constituencies in England increases from 533 to 543.
The Isle of Wight is set to be split in half with the creation of a new Parliamentary seat, meaning the Island will have 2 MPs. This is a major change for the Island.
Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, Tim Bowden, said:
“The Boundary Commission for England is redrawing the map of constituencies in England so that it represents local communities as best as possible, while keeping to the legal requirements – and you can help us. We received a fantastic number of responses during our first consultation – over 34,000 – and we want as many people as possible to get involved in our upcoming secondary consultation.
“Between 22 February and 4 April, we want you to tell us your thoughts on our proposed new map of constituencies. You can provide feedback in person at a public hearing in your region, or in writing via our consultation website bcereviews.org.uk, letter, or email”.
No surprise, with state TV, a royal family, 800 unelected lords and no written constitution, we are very far away from democracy.
Personally I think they’re gonna have to make the right hand Island segment smaller. They probably haven’t taken account of new housing developments in Ryde cramming yet more bodies in the East.
Don’t worry guys, they’ll fix it so we get 2 conservative MP to represent us.
That’s the bottom line here. No point having a “consultation” on the Island, it’s a done deal. Strange how Seely is silent – or not.
I personally do not see the need for this.
A lot of workers are expected to take on more work for no pay rise, so these MP’s should do the same as they get paid loads.
No public hearing? What’s that telling us? They did not want to hear what the public might have to say, because they aren’t interested, and will do as they like, sounds to me!
Exactly
God forbid we think for ourselves, might come up with a differing opinion to their preordained decision!
What that tells us is exactly the same as when Nick Clegg (remember him?) declared that part of the IW would be included as a mainland constituency,.
It’s being directed a number crunching technocracy with no practical experience of real people.
Direct democracy at work again. Islanders need to realise that they are second class citizens. This shows it. No one cares about a tiny Island at the south of the UK that does not provide much else apart from a holiday destination.