Labour welcomes Boundary Commission proposals for Watford but criticises ‘gerrymandering’
Watford Labour Party has welcomed the Parliamentary Boundary Commission proposals for a new constituency made up of Watford Borough wards plus two Oxhey wards to the south of the town centre published today (13th September)
However, the Chair of Watford Labour Party, Mike Jackson has slammed the rules issued to the Commission by the Conservative Government which would reduce the number of MPs by 50 and use criteria based on an out of date electoral register.
Labour Party Chair, Mike Jackson said,
“We have long argued that the wards of South Oxhey and Oxhey Hall & Hayling should be included in the Watford constituency and we are pleased that the Commission has agreed with us. It makes geographic sense and there are strong community and transport links between the areas.”
“However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the rules are set by the Tory Government in an undemocratic and partisan way. The reduction in the number of MPs will make government less accountable and is a bare-faced attempt to make it more difficult for Labour to win a majority given that urban areas will lose the most seats. It is nothing less than gerrymandering.”
“We are very happy that the Commission should review boundaries given population shifts but this should be done in a fair way, not like this,” he added.
However, the Chair of Watford Labour Party, Mike Jackson has slammed the rules issued to the Commission by the Conservative Government which would reduce the number of MPs by 50 and use criteria based on an out of date electoral register.
Labour Party Chair, Mike Jackson said,
“We have long argued that the wards of South Oxhey and Oxhey Hall & Hayling should be included in the Watford constituency and we are pleased that the Commission has agreed with us. It makes geographic sense and there are strong community and transport links between the areas.”
“However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the rules are set by the Tory Government in an undemocratic and partisan way. The reduction in the number of MPs will make government less accountable and is a bare-faced attempt to make it more difficult for Labour to win a majority given that urban areas will lose the most seats. It is nothing less than gerrymandering.”
“We are very happy that the Commission should review boundaries given population shifts but this should be done in a fair way, not like this,” he added.