'Absolutely ridiculous' – Keith cut off from Moray at next UK election
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KEITH will not share an MP with most of Moray after the next general election – due to changes described by local Councillors as "a bad decision", "a numbers game with no regard for the residents" and "absolutely ridiculous".
In changes announced by the Boundary Commission for Scotland last week (June 28), Keith and Buckie will become part of a new constituency named Aberdeenshire North and Moray East – stretching all the way to Cruden Bay.
The new border will run between Mulben and Keith – with Mulben continuing to share an MP with Forres and Elgin as part of new constituency Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey from the 2024 Westminster election.
In their final recommendations, which will be approved by MPs, the Boundary Commission for Scotland said: "We were unable to find a way to avoid dividing Moray because of the electorate numbers in surrounding areas."
Councillor for Keith and Cullen Donald Gatt (Conservative) said the change was a "bad decision" and would cause "more confusion" for residents of his ward, which is already cut off from Moray at Scottish Parliament elections.
“The split of the Moray constituency for national UK elections is a bad decision," Cllr Gatt said.
"And it exacerbates the situation in the Keith and Cullen ward, which is already split for the Moray constituency of the devolved Scottish Parliament, coupled with the regional list split for the devolved Scottish Parliament between Highlands and Islands and North East Scotland.
"The decision does nothing for the electorate, in being able to hold their elected representatives to account, as it leads to more confusion about who they should contact on which issues.
"The casual attitude of certain elected members to their constituent duties further adds to voter disillusionment.”
Describing the change as "absolutely ridiculous", Councillor Theresa Coull (SNP, Keith and Cullen) said constituents would face "huge confusion" when trying to contact their MP as a result.
A past change to Keith's constituency, when the town was part of Gordon District from 1997 to 2005, had been "really confusing" for voters, she added.
Councillor Theresa Coull (SNP) said: "This is not the first time that Keith has been part of boundary changes which were, at that time, really confusing for voters.
"From 1997 to 2005 Keith was part of Gordon District and was then transferred back again to Moray.
"We are now, again, being moved to Aberdeenshire North and Moray East which – in my opinion – is absolutely ridiculous for splitting a Council area in two all the way to Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
"Keith being in the Moray Council area has never had allegiance with Aberdeenshire and this will, as before, cause huge confusion between which area their MP, MSP and Councillor cover."
Highlighting strong links between Moray towns, bolstered by the whisky industry, Councillor Tracy Colyer (Conservative) also criticised the "carving up" of the constituency.
The new borders were part of a "numbers game with no regard for the residents", who "feel their identity will be lost".
She said: "I’m amazed and very disappointed that Moray is being carved up.
"All because of the numbers game, with no regard for the residents who feel their identity will be lost.
"Moray is an area of important historical value and has been the collective centre of the whisky trade for centuries.
"In my ward of Keith and Cullen, we have the oldest operational distillery being Strathisla Distillery, plus we also boast a Kiltmaking School at the Keith Kilt and Textile Centre."
