Constituency plans revised
Proposals to change the political map have been updated after objections but a Westminster dispute throws doubt on the changes.
The Coalition Government made a commitment in May 2010 to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600. Consequently, the number of Northern Ireland constituencies would drop from 18 to 16. However, the Liberal Democrats have pledged to block the cut after House of Lords reform was stalled by Tory opposition.
In September 2011, the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland published its provisional recommendations, which included dissolving South Belfast and Mid Ulster. The boundaries of most constituencies were redrawn, with Ballymena being moved into the new Mid Antrim seat, Coleraine into North Antrim, and the Ards Peninsula into North Down.
Two public consultations were held (in October-December 2011 and in January-February 2012) and revised recommendations were published in October. The commission is obliged to submit final proposals to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by 1 October 2013.
The review has already cost £557,000 and that cost may rise to around £900,000. It is still possible that the Conservatives and Lib Dems will cut a deal, as the general election is not due until 7 May 2015.
The DUP and SDLP both back the current 18-constitutency model. Sinn Féin has not objected to changing the overall number of seats and has instead lobbied for small local adjustments. Alliance and the UUP accept the 16-seat limit and the TUV prefers a cut to 17. The Green Party wanted the review to be postponed until the new local councils are in place.
Protecting South Belfast has been a major priority for the SDLP. The commission, though, concluded that a four-seat Belfast would stretch well beyond the city boundaries and disrupt most other constituencies. Outside Belfast, the Mid Antrim proposal has been abandoned with Ballymena merged into a larger South Antrim constituency. North Antrim is renamed Coleraine and North Antrim, as it crosses a county border, and 12 wards are exchanged between Mid Tyrone and Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Jim Allister strongly argued for the status quo in North Antrim but this would have a knock-on effect elsewhere. Ballymena’s inclusion in South Antrim is meant to reflect its transport links to Antrim town, but Allister claims that Ballymena has stronger links with Ballymoney.
Have your say
Groups and individuals can put forward their views on the revised recommendations up to 12 December, either by email to review@boundarycommission.org.uk or by writing to the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland, Forestview, Purdy’s Lane, Belfast, BT8 7AR.
