Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies

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The Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, also known as the 2013 Review, 2018 Review,^[1] or just boundary changes,^[2] was an ultimately unfruitful cycle of the process by which constituencies of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom are reviewed and redistributed. The four UK boundary commissions carried out their reviews between 2011 and 2018, but their recommendations were not taken up by the government and were formally laid aside in 2020.

The boundary commissions were to take into account revised rules for the number and size (electoral quota) of constituencies. The proposed changes included having a total of 600 seats rather than 650, as agreed by Parliament in 2011 to meet a reformist aim of the 2010–2015 coalition agreement.

The process began in 2011 and was intended to be completed by 2013, but a January 2013 vote in the House of Commons temporarily stopped the process. The commissions recommenced their map-drawing in 2016, and completed their work in September 2018.^[3] Although the proposals were immediately laid before Parliament they were not brought forward by the government for approval.^[4] Accordingly, they did not come into effect for the 2019 election, which was contested on 12 December 2019 using the constituency boundaries in place since 2010, as constituted by the Fifth Periodic Review.

The 2018 Review was formally abandoned with the passing of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020, which received Royal Assent on 14 December 2020. The next reviews will be conducted between 2021 and 2023.

Conclusion[]

The four Boundary Commissions submitted their Final Recommendations to the Secretary of State on 5 September 2018,^[5][6] and made their reports public a week later.^{[7][8][9][10]} Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom told the House on 13 September 2018 that "it will be some time" before the necessary Statutory Instruments can be put forward for approval by both the Commons and the Lords.^[11] The proposals were not put forward for approval prior to the calling of the general election held on 12 December 2019, which was contested using the constituency boundaries in place since 2010, as constituted by the Fifth Periodic Review.

After the 2019 election victory by the Conservative Party, the Government indicated that the Sixth Review would not be implemented. This required primary legislation, as the Government is legally required to give effect to the recommendations from the Boundary Commissions as set out in their 2018 reports. In addition, it is proposed that the next review, currently due to be completed by 2023, will be based on a total of 650 seats rather than 600, thereby retaining the current number of MPs.^[12]

In May 2020 the Government published the which, when passed as an Act of Parliament, would formally conclude the provisions of the legislation which created the Sixth Periodic Review by:^[13]

[...remov[ing] the duty on the Government to implement the 2018 boundary review recommendations, and the requirement, under section 14 of the PVSC Act 2011 (as amended by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013), to make arrangements, by 30 November 2020, to review the effects of the reduction in the number of constituencies to 600.

The Parliamentary Constituencies Act received Royal Assent on 14 December 2020.^[14] Under Clause 10, the duty to implement the "current" recommendations of the Boundary Commissions ceased to have effect on 24 March 2020.^[15]

Background[]

The process was launched on 4 March 2011 by the Boundary Commission for England,^[16] Boundary Commission for Scotland,^[17] Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland^[18] and Boundary Commission for Wales.^[19] The changes were to be implemented by virtue of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, which amended the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986. Part II of the Act (henceforth referred to as 'PVSaCA') deals with the amendments to the manner in which House of Commons constituencies are formed by the individual boundary commissions. Each commission was obliged to make a final report to the Secretary of State before 1 October 2013 (by virtue of Section 10, Clause 3, which amends Subsection 2 of Section 3 of the 1986 Act).

Following a debate in the House of Lords on 14 January 2013, the Opposition tabled and voted for an amendment to legislation to postpone the date by which the Review ends, which they passed and sent back to the Commons, on a relatively small 69-vote majority.^[20] A Commons vote on 29 January 2013 in agreement meant the review instead began after May 2015 for completion in 2018.^[21] The Review had been required for completion by October 2013 under the principles of Section 3 of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (themselves loosening previous requirements by instead calling for periodic reviews every eight to twelve years) as left intact by Part 2 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011. The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 superseded these principles to make an exception for this Review, delaying it until 2018.

Following the 2015 election, the majority Conservative government considered the boundary review as a priority.^[22][23] In July 2015, then Prime Minister David Cameron reiterated his plan to go ahead with reducing the number of Members of Parliament and "cut the cost of politics",^[24] saying the proposals were "the right approach".^[25] In 2016 each of the four parliamentary boundary commissions of the United Kingdom re-commenced the review process.^{[26][27][28][29]}

The Conservatives won the most seats at the general election in June 2017. The party's manifesto included a pledge to carry on with the review process and reduce the number of MPs to 600.^[30] In February 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May was urged by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to deal with the boundary review process as a matter of priority.^[31]

Changes to review process[]

The original legislation made several significant changes to the way constituencies were to be reviewed.

Number of constituencies: PVSaCA requires there to be exactly six hundred parliamentary constituencies (Schedule 2, clause 1) – a reduction of 50 from the total fought at the 2010 General Election. This is the first time a precise number has been included in legislation.

More equal constituencies: with a few specified exceptions for island areas (see below), the size (electorate) of all constituencies must be within 5% above or below the target number.

Increased frequency of reviews: the first review was to be completed by 2013 so that a general election held in 2015 would have been contested on the new boundaries. The legislation requires a review every five years after that date, rather than every twelve to fifteen years as previously. To ensure this timetable is achievable, the reviews will take place over the whole country simultaneously, rather than being phased over several years as in the past.

Protected constituencies[]

Four island constituencies are 'protected' by PVSaCA. They are:

• Orkney and Shetland
• Na h-Eileanan an Iar (the Western Isles of Scotland)
• Two seats within the boundaries of the Isle of Wight (this is an enforced division of the single Isle of Wight constituency contested at previous elections)

Timetable[]

2011 review[]

The four commissions adopted consistent procedures for developing their boundary proposals, starting with simultaneous announcements in March 2011 which began the review process.

In each part of the UK, the relevant commission first published "Provisional Proposals", accessible on the Web and viewable at local council offices. There was a twelve-week period from the moment of publication during which the public could comment on the proposals, whether supporting, opposing or suggesting an alternative. During this period, public hearings held across the country allowed those representations to be made in public: all written comments received were made public after the end of the twelve-week period.

The commissions then considered all representations, and the resulting Revised Recommendations were to be published for further public consultation (8 weeks), though without a second public hearing. The commissions would then decide on their final proposals.

The Scottish commission gave the following expected timetable for the process which was temporarily halted;^[32] the timings in the three other countries were expected to be similar. The English commission began its public consultations on 11 October 2011 in Manchester, and concluded on 17/18 November in Darlington, and Exeter.^[33]

• Start of review: March 2011
• Initial Proposals consultation (12 weeks): September/October 2011 – January 2012
• Public Hearings: October/ November 2011
• Scrutiny of representations: Spring 2012
• Revised Proposals consultation (8 weeks): November 2012 – January 2013
• Report submission: Summer 2013

The four commissions would have been required to present their reports by October 2013. The government had hoped that the reports would then be approved by Parliament and in place for the May 2015 general election. In January 2013, the Government lost a vote on this timetable, which effectively ended the entire process.^[34]

2018 review[]

In July 2016 the Boundary Commission for England published its guide to the 2018 review.^[35] In it, the date for publishing provisional recommendations was set at the week beginning 12 September 2016. The Welsh Commission aimed to publish their Initial Proposals on 13 September 2016.^[36]

Distribution of seats[]

The total of 600 constituencies required by the Act were allocated between the four countries of the UK as shown in the table below. The English Boundary Commission then announced that the number of constituencies allocated to England would be sub-divided by region, with the aim of producing "initial proposals in which each constituency is wholly contained within a single region". The seats allocated to each region are also shown below.

United Kingdom[]

Nation	2010/15/17/19 seats	2011 review[37]				2018 review[38]
		Electorate	Allocation	Change	Average size	Electorate	Allocation	Change	Average size
England *	532	38,332,557	500	−32	76,665	37,294,494	499	−33	74,738
(Isle of Wight)	1	110,924	2	+1	55,462	105,448	2	+1	52,724
Northern Ireland	18	1,190,635	16	−2	74,415	1,243,369	17	−1	73,139
Scotland *	57	3,873,387	50	−7	77,468	3,842,736	51	−6	75,348
(Orkney and Shetland)	1	33,755	1	—	33,755	33,229	1	—	33,229
(Na h-Eileanan an Iar)	1	21,837	1	—	21,837	20,887	1	—	20,887
Wales	40	2,281,596	30	−10	76,053	2,181,841	29	−11	75,236
Total	650	45,844,691	600	−50	76,408	44,562,440	600	−50	74,270

* Excluding the protected island areas

Regions of England[]

Region	2010/15/17/19 seats	2011 review[39]				2018 review[1][35]
		Electorate	Allocation	Change	Average size	Electorate	Allocation	Change	Average size
Eastern	58	4,280,707	56	−2	76,441	4,242,266	57	−1	74,426
East Midlands	46	3,361,089	44	−2	76,388	3,275,046	44	−2	74,433
London	73	5,266,904	68	−5	77,454	5,118,884	68	−5	75,278
North East	29	1,971,249	26	−3	75,817	1,874,396	25	−4	74,976
North West	75	5,253,019	68	−7	77,250	5,074,302	68	−7	74,622
South East *	83	6,192,504	81	−2	76,450	6,067,475	81	−2	74,907
South West	55	4,042,475	53	−2	76,273	3,930,770	53	−2	74,165
West Midlands	59	4,115,668	54	−5	76,216	3,989,320	53	−6	75,270
Yorkshire and the Humber	54	3,848,942	50	−4	76,979	3,722,035	50	−4	74,441
Total	532*	38,332,557	500	−32	76,665	37,294,494	499	–33	74,738

* Excluding the protected Isle of Wight

Practical considerations[]

The four commissions published descriptions of how they would carry out their work, and held meetings with representatives of political parties to explain their approach in the light of the more restrictive rules to which they have to work.

For example, the Boundary Commission for England stated in its 2011 newsletter: "The Commission wishes to make very clear that those with an interest in the review process should understand that the defined number of constituencies and the 5% electoral parity target are statutory requirements that it must apply and that it has absolutely no discretion in respect of either matter."^[40]

In February 2016 the BCE released conclusions from a meeting with representatives from political parties, confirming that the 2013 review would not be used as the basis for the 2018 review and they would consider splitting electoral wards where necessary.^[41] In July 2016 the English commission explained their policy towards splitting electoral wards as follows:

The BCE recognises that in a few cases there may be exceptional and compelling circumstances ... that may make it appropriate to divide a ward. Strong evidence and justification will need to be provided in any constituency scheme that proposes to split a ward, and the number of such ward splits should be kept to an absolute minimum. Examples of circumstances in which the BCE might propose splitting a ward could include: a) where all the possible "whole ward" options in an area would significantly cut across local ties; or b) where splitting a single ward may prevent a significant "domino effect" of otherwise unnecessary change to a chain of constituencies.^[35]

Size of constituencies[]

In Great Britain, constituencies can have no less an electorate than 72,810 and no more than 80,473.^[40][42] The quota in Northern Ireland is slightly different, with a fixed minimum of 70,583 and a fixed maximum of 80,473.^[43]

The quota does not apply if the area of a constituency is larger than 12,000 square kilometres (4,630 sq mi) (new Schedule 2, Rule 4(2)). No constituency can be larger than 13,000 square kilometres (5,020 sq mi) (new Schedule 2, Rule 4(1)).

Composition of constituencies[]

Westminster constituencies are usually created by combining entire electoral wards. For the 2013 Review, the Boundary Commission for England said in its newsletter that whilst it had used entire electoral wards in the past, the new legislation and fixed electorate quota made that harder. Therefore, it aimed to use polling districts in circumstances where using entire wards was not possible, and said "it is prepared to take into account as appropriate any new ward boundaries that have been introduced after 6 May 2010".^[44] The English Commission outlined that it was "focused on getting all constituencies within the statutory range, rather than as close as possible to the electoral quota figure itself".

At a meeting held in February 2016, the Boundary Commission for Wales confirmed it would recommend 29 constituencies in September of that year.^[45] In the same meeting the Commission said it would "avoid splitting electoral wards and communities where it was possible to do so".

The Scottish Commission expected few, if any, existing constituencies to remain unchanged and new seats "probably not" all to be constructed from complete electoral wards.^[46] The Northern Ireland Commission expected "few, if any" constituencies to remain the same.^[43]

Provisional recommendations (2011 review)[]

England (2011)[]

For the aborted 2011 review, the Boundary Commission for England released its "Initial Proposals" to the public on 13 September 2011.^[47] Their provisional recommendations did not require division of any electoral ward.

Amongst the proposals, Prime Minister David Cameron (Witney) and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband (Doncaster North) would have seen their seats remain intact with no changes. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's seat of Sheffield Hallam would have been altered into the proposed "Sheffield West and Penistone".

The Isle of Wight was to be divided into two almost equal halves. The so-called Devonwall constituency, sharing wards between neighbouring Devon and Cornwall, was suggested as "Bideford and Bude".

Scotland (2011)[]

The Initial Proposal from the Boundary Commission for Scotland was released at midnight on 13 October 2011.^[48] Amongst their proposals were six prefixed by the word "Glasgow", a reduction of one across the city. Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy's seat of Ross, Skye and Lochaber was to be divided between three other seats covering the Highlands, and Argyll and Bute. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's seat, Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, would also have been redrawn into a newly configured "Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes". Public consultation closed in January 2012.

Northern Ireland (2011)[]

On 13 September 2011, the Northern Ireland Commission proposed to reduce the number of Belfast seats by one, and create a newly formed "Glenshane", named after the Glenshane Pass.^[49][50][51] The official response of the Democratic Unionist Party criticised the proposals as having "the stench of gerrymander" and having "a disproportionately negative impact upon Unionism".^[52] The Ulster Unionist Party identified "particular disquiet" in specific towns as a result of the provisional proposals but accepted that there was "limited room for manoeuvre".^[53]

Wales (2011)[]

The Boundary Commission for Wales released its provisional recommendations on 11 January 2012.^[54] Cardiff had its representation cut by one, the Isle of Anglesey was joined with Bangor and Bethesda in a new seat styled "Menai ac Ynys Môn", and Merthyr Tydfil was brought into a new constituency named "Heads of the Valley". Four electoral wards were to be divided between constituencies.

Revised recommendations (2011 review)[]

There was a statutory eight-week consultation period for responding to revised recommendations, if any are required.

England (2011 revised)[]

Revised recommendations for the English regions were published on 16 October.^[55] Unlike in the initial proposals, the Commission split (or divided) some electoral wards between seats,^[56] specifically in Tewkesbury and Gloucester.^[57][58] Additionally, the Isle of Wight was divided east/west^[59] and the cross-border Devon-Cornwall proposed seat considered some sort of 'Devonwall seat' by local critics arguing the difference between the counties trumps the ideals of equal apportionment, was modified to bear proposed name 'Bideford, Bude and Launceston'.^[60]

Scotland (2011 revised)[]

The Boundary Commission for Scotland released its revised recommendations on 13 September 2012.^[61] Of the 50 mainland constituencies initially recommended, 24 went unchanged, thirteen only had new boundaries recommended and five had both boundaries and names changed, whilst eight were just given new names ('Ayr North, Troon and Cumnock', 'Ayrshire Central and Arran', 'Edinburgh South East', 'Galloway, Ayr South and Carrick', 'Glasgow South', 'Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West', 'Renfrewshire South and Ayrshire North', and 'West Dunbartonshire and Bearsden North').

Northern Ireland (2011 revised)[]

On 16 October 2012, the Northern Irish Commission confirmed alterations to their proposed Antrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone seats.^[62]

Wales (2011 revised)[]

Revised recommendations for Wales were published on 24 October.^[63] Almost all the initial proposals were altered, so as to place Machynlleth in a 'Brecon, Radnor and Montgomery' seat, and to rename proposed constituencies across North Wales as Ynys Môn a Bangor, 'Conwy and Colwyn', and 'Flint and North Denbighshire'.^[63]

Provisional recommendations (2018 review)[]

England (2018)[]

The Boundary Commission for England confirmed its provisional recommendations on 13 September 2016.^[64]

Scotland (2018)[]

The Scottish proposals were published in October 2016.^[65] The changes include reducing the number of seats in Glasgow by one.^[66]

Wales (2018)[]

The Welsh Commission published its recommendations on 13 September 2016, reducing the number of constituencies by over a quarter.^[67] Most seats are given English names while six are recommended to be given Welsh names, namely:

• Ynys Môn ac Arfon
• Gogledd Clwyd a Gwynedd
• De Clwyd a Gogledd Sir Faldwyn
• Llanelli a Lliw
• Caerfyrddin
• Ceredigion a Gogledd Sir Benfro^[68]

Northern Ireland (2018)[]

Provisional recommendations were published by the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland on 6 September 2016. While Belfast would lose one of its four seats, six new constituencies would be created, which have been provisionally called "Dalriada", "Glenshane", "North Tyrone", "Upper Bann and Blackwater", "West Antrim" and "West Down".^[69] The proposals would also split the town of Dungiven between three constituencies, a change which Órfhlaith Begley (MP for West Tyrone) has described as an "absurdity".^[70]

Revised recommendations (2018 review)[]

Revised boundary proposals for Northern Ireland were published on 30 January 2018, following two consultation periods on the provisional recommendations.^[71] Belfast was restored to four proposed constituencies, while revisions elsewhere resulted in initially three (rather than six) new constituency names: "Causeway", "Mid Antrim" and "Mid Down".^[72] After further revisions, a fourth new constituency named "Sperrin" was later added in September.^[73] The Scottish Commission opened up consultation for its revised recommendations between October and December 2017.^[74]

The Welsh Commission published its revised proposals in October 2017, retaining their decision to give constituencies "dual" names in both English and Welsh.^[75] The English Commission's revised proposals consultation closed in December 2017.^[76]

Political and economic impact and controversy[]

The review was not without controversy. A spokesperson for the opposition Labour Party told the BBC "political motives" were behind the changes when they were introduced.^[77] Labour's former Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ann McKechin, called the process "gerrymandering",^[78] whilst her successor Margaret Curran criticised "Nick Clegg's plan to gerrymander Scotland".^[79] Former Conservative Minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind labelled the proposals "a muddle".^[80] Labour MP for Preston, Mark Hendrick, labelled the proposals "gerrymandering to curry political persuasion".^[81]

In June 2011, research company Democratic Audit published its findings about the review of constituency boundaries. The organisation attempted to create a set of boundaries for the UK according to the new rules, and to examine their political consequences. Their studies suggested that the Liberal Democrats could lose "a quarter" of their current seats.^[82][83] Provisional notional results published in January 2012 calculated that the Conservatives could have won 299 seats under the new boundaries.^[84]

In August 2012 the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012 was dropped by the Government, after disagreements between members of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg confirmed that he would instruct his MPs to vote against the Sixth Periodic Review,^{[citation needed]} although David Cameron vowed to pass the necessary orders regardless.^[85][86]

On 30 October, an amendment to the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill was tabled by Labour and Liberal Democrat peers which would postpone the Sixth Periodic Review until 2018.^[87] On the following day, Labour peer Lord Hart, crossbencher Lord Kerr, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard, and former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Wigley tabled an amendment to the same Bill to postpone the Sixth Review until 2018.^[88][89] During 14 January debate, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg received personal criticism of the position Lords found themselves in: former Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth accused Clegg of "going from 'cross' to 'double cross'".^[90]

In October 2012, Lord Wallace told the House of Lords that the boundary commissions had spent £5.8 million as of August 2012 and would spend a further £3.8 million from September 2012 until the end of the Review.^[91]

The Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill 2017–19, most recently debated in 2017, aimed to replace the Sixth Periodic Review with an entirely new process in time for the next general election.^[92] It was not given a third reading before the 2019 general election, which therefore used the existing boundaries.

Patrick Lynch v. The Boundary Commissioner for Northern Ireland[]

In June 2020 the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ruled on appeal against the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland for their decision-making during the Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, stating in part:

It is our view that the barriers unnecessarily erected by the Commission after the [Revised Proposals Report] to representations from members of the public as part of the statutory scheme of consultation subverted the process and unlawfully impugned the [Final Recommendations Report] and its final recommendations.^[93]

The court quashed the Final Report and sent it back to the Commission for reconsideration, while noting that such reconsideration will not be needed once the review is abandoned.

Termination of original review[]

On 31 January 2013 the four commissions issued statements announcing that they would not be continuing with the review. The English Boundary Commission officially closed their portion of the Sixth Periodic Review.^[94] The Boundary Commission for Scotland closed its part of the review confirming they would not be completing it.^[95] The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland also announced they had ended the review and would not be reporting to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.^[96] The Boundary Commission for Wales stated they were cancelling the review, and would not finalise the development of their recommendations.^[97]

See also[]

• Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies
• 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies
• List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies

References[]

External links[]

• Boundary Commission for England
• Boundary Commission for Scotland
• Boundary Commission for Wales
• Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland