Following the announcement by the Boundary Commission of its initial Parliamentary boundary proposals for Lincolnshire, Karl McCartney JP MP, Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, said: “I welcome the creation of a level playing field across both the Country and County given that Lincoln had one of the smallest electorates in our County. As I said the last time there was a consultation on the Parliamentary Constituency boundaries, increasing the size of the Lincoln constituency is common sense and will ensure there are approximately the same number of voters in each Constituency across Lincolnshire and the Country.
“My view on the actual proposals and how they affect our City is that they could be a lot simpler and less disruptive to existing communities. Whilst I would of course gladly welcome North Hykeham into the Lincoln Constituency, and of course then represent those constituents as well as all others I have done since 2010, I believe a fairer solution would be for the Ward of Bracebridge Heath & Waddington East to be retained and for Waddington West and the Heighington and Washingborough Ward (including the village of Canwick) to be added to the Lincoln Parliamentary Constituency. This is simpler than moving the whole of North Hykeham into Lincoln and moving Bracebridge Heath & Waddington East out to a new seat called Sleaford.
“This neat solution to the mathematical machinations of the Boundary Commission also has the beauty of retaining the historical link and name of the Sleaford and North Hykeham Constituency to the South of Lincoln. It would mean uniting the village of Waddington, and geographically it is a good fit too.
“My alternative would also mean moving only 7,304 electors between constituencies, rather than 19,958.
“There is also a case for a small change in the proposed Lincoln Constituency where it would seem sensible to make the A46 and A158 the north and north-eastern boundary of the City Constituency, therefore including Millbank Drive and Eastholm and associated areas within Lincoln, rather than these areas (which have a relatively small number of electors) being within the Gainsborough Constituency as they are now.
“I will be making my alternative solution clear to the Boundary Commission both in a written submission and will be requesting the opportunity of presenting this alternative change to them when they have their consultation event in Lincoln in early November this year.”
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Notes to Editors
To view the Boundary Commission for England’s proposals and comment on them, visit http://www.bce2018.org.uk/.
For further information, please contact Karl McCartney JP MP at: [email protected] / 020 7219 7221