Local Labour opposes boundary changes

Councillor Neil Emmott

Councillor Neil Emmott led the local Labour party case against the recently proposed boundary changes at the full council meeting on Wednesday evening (19 October).

Councillor Emmott submitted a motion which read: “This Council believes that parliamentary constituency boundaries should be drawn up to best reflect the communities they serve and identify with people who have a common interest in that area.

"The Council believes this is not reflected in the government’s current plans to introduce changes across the country which will affect long-established towns and local communities.

"The Council notes the bizarre contradiction in the Conservative government's policy of reducing the number of elected MPs by 50, while at the same time appointing more than 200 unelected Peers to the House of Lords.

"Under the Boundary Commission’s proposals, the revised parliamentary constituencies will divide all three towns within our borough, despite the existing constituencies being the right size as determined by the Boundary Commission’s own rules.

"Long-established towns will be ripped apart and unfamiliar communities thrust together.

"This Council is particularly concerned that local representation in Parliament will be adversely affected by these proposals.

"This Council supports the current boundaries of the Rochdale and Heywood and Middleton constituencies as best representing unified and cohesive communities.

"The Council instructs the Chief Executive to respond to the consultation on the proposals to express our concern regarding the Commission's proposals and to propose the borough's existing parliamentary boundaries be retained.”

Speaking in the Council chamber, Councillor Emmott said that whilst the proposed changes would in fact be beneficial to Labour locally, in that the party could expect to win all three proposed constituencies, it was felt the needs of the local community were paramount.

Backing his Labour colleague against the changes, Councillor O'Rouke explained that some residents on one street in his ward would be represented by one MP whilst others would be represented by another.

Local Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Andy Kelly, made the controversial claim that the Labour opposition to the changes was motivated by a desire to protect incumbent Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk. He added the Lib Dems support the proposed changes "as it is better to have three MPs representing our borough rather than the current two".

Under the proposals, the Borough could be carved up into three constituencies:

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105053/the-borough-could-be-carved-up-into-three-constituencies-under-boundary-commission-proposals

Councillor Ashley Dearnley said he felt the return to a Littleborough and Saddleworth constituency was good because they were similar villages and it had worked well as a constituency previously. However, he added that whilst he had some sympathy with the Lib Dem position of supporting the proposed changes, the Conservatives could support the Labour motion against if paragraph three regarding Conservative peers was removed - Councillor Emmott agreed, backed by the seconder of the motion, Councillor Liam O'Rourke.

The motion was carried with support from Labour and Conservative councillors, the two Lib Dem councillors voting against.