5th January 2021
Following the release of the Parliamentary Electoral register for 2 March 2020 today by the Office of National Statistics, details for the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies have been announced by the four UK Boundary Commissions. This includes the number of constituencies allocated to each part of the UK and the Electoral Quota (average electorate) for each constituency.
For the 2023 Review the Electoral Quota (EQ) will be 73,392.
In accordance with the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (the 1986 Act), as amended, the number of Parliamentary constituencies across the UK will remain at 650. Across the UK, the number of constituencies has been calculated using the Saint Lague formula as follows:
- in England 543 in place of the current 533;
- in Scotland 57 in place of the current 59
- in Wales 32 in place of the current 40; and
- in Northern Ireland 18 constituencies will be retained
Although the number of constituencies in Northern Ireland will remain at 18, the boundaries of existing constituencies will have to be amended due to the Rules set out in the 1986 Act. The legislation determines that in most of the UK the electorate of each constituency will have to be within 5% of the electoral quota (73,392). The smallest permitted electorate in any constituency will be 69,724 and the largest 77,062.
In Northern Ireland the legislation allows for a wider range, in certain prescribed circumstances, from 68,313 to 77,062.
The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland, which is responsible for reviewing Northern Ireland’s Parliamentary constituency boundaries, will put its Final Recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Commons by 1 July 2023.
The Commission will shortly begin its work on developing Initial Proposals. These will be published for public consultation in the latter part of 2021. This will be the first of a number of public consultations as set out in legislation, which will also include public hearings.
The Proposals will be fully available at each stage of the Review for comment by anyone with an interest and the 2023 Review.
The 2023 Review will take place over two and a half years to ensure that the Final Recommendations made are thorough and take account of the public views submitted.
More infomation will become available on the Commission’s website and twitter feed as the 2023 Review progresses.