This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/20/scotland-constituency-changes-branded-outrageous-and-undemocratic

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scotland constituency changes branded outrageous and undemocratic Scotland constituency changes branded outrageous and undemocratic
(about 3 hours later)
A radical overhaul of Westminster constituency boundaries in Scotland has been condemned as “outrageous” and “undemocratic” by both the Scottish National party and Scottish Labour.A radical overhaul of Westminster constituency boundaries in Scotland has been condemned as “outrageous” and “undemocratic” by both the Scottish National party and Scottish Labour.
The proposals from the Boundary Commission for Scotland leave only one existing constituency unchanged, in addition to two island groupings protected by legislation. They come a month after similar plans for England and Wales were dismissed as gerrymandering by Labour, after analysts suggested they could result in the opposition losing 23 sitting MPs.The proposals from the Boundary Commission for Scotland leave only one existing constituency unchanged, in addition to two island groupings protected by legislation. They come a month after similar plans for England and Wales were dismissed as gerrymandering by Labour, after analysts suggested they could result in the opposition losing 23 sitting MPs.
The changes, initiated by David Cameron as part of an effort to cut the number of politicians in the House of Commons from 650 to 600, will result in the number of Westminster constituencies north of the border being reduced from 59 to 53.The changes, initiated by David Cameron as part of an effort to cut the number of politicians in the House of Commons from 650 to 600, will result in the number of Westminster constituencies north of the border being reduced from 59 to 53.
Two of these 53 – Na h-Eileanan an Iar, or the Western Isles, and Orkney and Shetland – are defined in legislation and will not be subject to change.Two of these 53 – Na h-Eileanan an Iar, or the Western Isles, and Orkney and Shetland – are defined in legislation and will not be subject to change.
The shifting boundaries aim to ensure that each person’s vote is of similar value by equalising the number of registered voters in each constituency to within 5% of 74,769, and will inevitably hit the SNP, which won 56 seats out of 59 in the 2015 general election, hardest. Only 11 existing Scottish constituencies have electorates within 5% of the quota, largely because of the country’s divergent population distribution between rural and urban areas.The shifting boundaries aim to ensure that each person’s vote is of similar value by equalising the number of registered voters in each constituency to within 5% of 74,769, and will inevitably hit the SNP, which won 56 seats out of 59 in the 2015 general election, hardest. Only 11 existing Scottish constituencies have electorates within 5% of the quota, largely because of the country’s divergent population distribution between rural and urban areas.
The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, described the proposals as “unacceptable”. The newly elected SNP deputy leader said: “At a time when Scotland already faces a deep and growing democratic deficit, with a Tory government that we didn’t vote for imposing increasingly rightwing policies against our will, it is vital that the Scottish people have strong elected representation at Westminster to stand up for Scotland’s interests and to hold the UK government to account.”The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, described the proposals as “unacceptable”. The newly elected SNP deputy leader said: “At a time when Scotland already faces a deep and growing democratic deficit, with a Tory government that we didn’t vote for imposing increasingly rightwing policies against our will, it is vital that the Scottish people have strong elected representation at Westminster to stand up for Scotland’s interests and to hold the UK government to account.”
Robertson added: “Furthermore, it is outrageous and undemocratic that the UK government is planning to cut the number of Scottish MPs while it continues to pack the unelected and unaccountable House of Lords with yet more Tory donors and cronies to do the government’s bidding.”Robertson added: “Furthermore, it is outrageous and undemocratic that the UK government is planning to cut the number of Scottish MPs while it continues to pack the unelected and unaccountable House of Lords with yet more Tory donors and cronies to do the government’s bidding.”
The proposals include a significant redrawing of constituency boundaries in the north of Scotland, with the largest new constituency by area, Highland North, taking in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross along with the bulk of Ross, Skye and Lochaber, currently held by the SNP’s Ian Blackford.The proposals include a significant redrawing of constituency boundaries in the north of Scotland, with the largest new constituency by area, Highland North, taking in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross along with the bulk of Ross, Skye and Lochaber, currently held by the SNP’s Ian Blackford.
Blackford told the Guardian that the plans showed little appreciation of geography, or the particular challenges of representing a widely spread constituency. “It is not right to have such large constituencies in the north of Scotland. It would appear from the plans that about 50% of the land mass of Scotland is to be represented by three MPs, which brings about basic issues of democratic accountability and accessibility to constituents.”Blackford told the Guardian that the plans showed little appreciation of geography, or the particular challenges of representing a widely spread constituency. “It is not right to have such large constituencies in the north of Scotland. It would appear from the plans that about 50% of the land mass of Scotland is to be represented by three MPs, which brings about basic issues of democratic accountability and accessibility to constituents.”
Proposed changes to urban areas have also drawn criticism. Plans to cut Glasgow’s constituencies to six would leaving the city’s seven sitting SNP MPs facing a round of musical chairs.Proposed changes to urban areas have also drawn criticism. Plans to cut Glasgow’s constituencies to six would leaving the city’s seven sitting SNP MPs facing a round of musical chairs.
Scottish Labour’s Westminster spokesperson, Ian Murray, described plans for six new constituencies for Edinburgh as being drawn “by someone who knows very little about our capital city”. Scottish Labour’s Westminster spokesman, Ian Murray, described plans for six new constituencies for Edinburgh as being drawn “by someone who knows very little about our capital city”.
Murray’s own constituency of Edinburgh South would face a split between the once traditionally Labour-supporting Edinburgh East, whose voters migrated to the SNP at the last election, and the more affluent Edinburgh South West and Central seat. He said: “The proposals would split communities down the middle, with one seat stretching from Bonaly Country Park in the shadow of the Pentland Hills all the way to the top of Leith Walk in the city centre.”Murray’s own constituency of Edinburgh South would face a split between the once traditionally Labour-supporting Edinburgh East, whose voters migrated to the SNP at the last election, and the more affluent Edinburgh South West and Central seat. He said: “The proposals would split communities down the middle, with one seat stretching from Bonaly Country Park in the shadow of the Pentland Hills all the way to the top of Leith Walk in the city centre.”
Murray said: “These Tory proposals to redraw constituency boundaries are unfair, undemocratic and unacceptable. They are based on an out-of-date version of the electoral register with nearly two million voters across the UK missing.Murray said: “These Tory proposals to redraw constituency boundaries are unfair, undemocratic and unacceptable. They are based on an out-of-date version of the electoral register with nearly two million voters across the UK missing.
“In the past, ministers have argued that cutting the number of MPs will save the taxpayer £12m, but David Cameron created scores of extra unelected peers in the House of Lords, costing £34m. Labour has proposed abolishing the House of Lords, replacing it with an elected senate of the nations and regions.”“In the past, ministers have argued that cutting the number of MPs will save the taxpayer £12m, but David Cameron created scores of extra unelected peers in the House of Lords, costing £34m. Labour has proposed abolishing the House of Lords, replacing it with an elected senate of the nations and regions.”
Prior to publication, the prospect was raised of Scottish Secretary David Mundell, the only Tory MP in Scotland, losing his seat to the SNP. However, the planned changes to his Dumfriesshire constituency appear to take only a bite of the central belt likely to be diluted by still more of the rural Conservative demographic that elected him previously. Prior to publication, the prospect was raised of the Scottish secretary, David Mundell, the only Tory MP in Scotland, losing his seat to the SNP. However, the planned changes to his Dumfriesshire constituency appear to take only a bite of the central belt likely to be diluted by still more of the rural Conservative demographic that elected him previously.
The UK minister for the constitution, Chris Skidmore, said the proposals, which will now be subject to consultation, with final recommendations submitted to the Commons in autumn 2018, would cut the cost of politics.The UK minister for the constitution, Chris Skidmore, said the proposals, which will now be subject to consultation, with final recommendations submitted to the Commons in autumn 2018, would cut the cost of politics.
He said: “We are committed to ensuring fair and equal representation for the voting public across the UK is in place by the next general election.”He said: “We are committed to ensuring fair and equal representation for the voting public across the UK is in place by the next general election.”