The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is inviting comments during its second consultation on constituency boundaries, open until 4th April 2022.
Under the proposed changes, the Isle of Wight – currently the largest constituency in the UK – will be divided into 2, creating the new constituencies of East and West Wight.
Although larger in size, the West Wight would have an electorate of 54,712 and would include Cowes, Freshwater and part of Newport, which would be divided by the River Medina.
East Wight would be smaller in area but have a larger electorate of 57,004. It would encompass most of Newport, Ryde, Bembridge, Shanklin and Sandown.
The Commission is trying to make the number of electors in each constituency roughly the same. It wants members of the public to help shape the boundaries in their area by taking part in a consultation, running from 22nd February to 4th April.
Responses can be sent in by letter, email or provided in person at a public hearing. You can book a 10-minute slot to speak at a hearing on the Boundary Commission website. The public hearing for the Isle of Wight will be at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel Cosham on 17th and 18th March.
Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, Tim Bowden, said:
“The 2023 Boundary Review will rebalance the number of electors represented by each MP. It’s important that the constituencies we shape reflect your local community as best as possible.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’re inviting more people to have their say in our current secondary consultation, which is open now until 4th April. Help us to get our proposals right for your area by telling us your views, or at a public hearing in your region.
“We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback, and we take every response into account during our review of constituency boundaries.”
Combine us with mainland constituencies please. At least that way central government might stop treating the island like it was a third world dependency. Separation just isn’t working!
Combining us with mainland constituencies would only ensure that issues unique to our island community get even less consideration than they do now because the needs of the larger part of the region would take priority and our small choice would be lost.
Two councils = twice the chaos. Ridiculously stupid idea.
This is about MPs, not councils.
Two constituencies means two MPs and hence twice the influence in national government (in theory at least)
Well said sir, I have been trying to say the same thing, but IE won’t post my comments.
Far to many idiot sheep on these pages.
No. One council. 2 MPs. Nothing to do with the council.
And that’s better is it. ????
YES ! It won’t cost local people anything. TWO MP’s fighting for the island instead of ONE.
Ain’t rocket…..!
Where does it mention 2 councils? This is for elections to parliament, you did actually read the article, didn’t you?
Portsmouth Marriot HOTEL.
Simpler answer, give us 2 mps
Makes one wonder if these people ever DO anything,. How long have they been talking about this. There’s an old expression that fits perfectly ‘Procrastination is the thief of time’
In this case, procrastination is essential to time the new electoral boundaries best to suit the next general election.
Not that I’m cynical.
WHY are they proposing to split the Newport Electorate between 2 MP’s?
If they are trying to make ‘roughly’ equal constituencies, surely they should leave Newport as an entirety to help balance the figures!
Wow how much time effort and energy are these pl—–s wasting on this ridiculous idea ?????
It’s an island for goodness sake , leave it as is is !!!!!
As previously said by other’s more councillors more massive stupid wages !!!!!!
For goodness sake get a grip and stop wasting our money on the most stupid things …..
Thought you we’re meant to be an alliance not independent / individual !!!!!!.
Basically you are all as bad as each other….
And we are all fed up with back stabbing and bitching !!!!
Do something positive for us mere cash cow’s……
Don’t waste any more money time etc ……
Yes paid too much. people struggle on minimum wage .we are one island stupid parts do not mean anything community is a answer not rich poor but one community who care
Another consultation?
We keep having consultations and the result is always the same but the boundaries never change and we remain the largest constituency in the country by a large margin.
And the point is?…….How is this different to anything they have done before. I’m old enough to remember Medina Biriugh Council and South wight Borough Council…..nothing new under the sun!
We do not want MORE MP’s.
Make all areas contain the same number of people as the island, that way less MP’s and less cost.
Make them work for there huge pay packages and dubious expenses.
I think that in the bigger scheme of things that there will be less MP’s Nationwide. And the only people to benefit, are the people of the IW.
AND YOU ALL STILL MOAN AND B***C.
Unbelievable…..!
Two MPs for the Isle of Wight – why? We will end up arguing that one side is getting more benefits than the other which will achieve nothing. We need unity and someone who is actually interested in the population of this Island and the Island’s future.
Really it is obvious the government has too much money, so they make this post up…,
Can’t believe so many people are against having our vote strengthened. Having two MPs makes our vote worth more.
You can clearly see what their doing. You’ve got the smog filled “The Dark Side” to the East, and the “The Bright Side” to the West of the boundary. Simples.
For Godsake does that mean an East and West Councils amoeba comes to mind why east and west why not north and south or can’t MPs decide what to do with floating Bridge seems agood idea for a swing bridge remember Yarmouth in the west wight it’s a farse a serious farse so what if the island is the largest constituency its only a voting slip democracy gone mad