Final consultation starts on revised Parliamentary constituencies
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Today marks the start of a four-week public consultation on our Revised Proposals for the 2023 Review of UK Parliament constituencies.
This is the last consultation period before the Boundary Commission for Scotland decide on final constituency proposals which include radical changes for Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland is an independent organisation responsible for reviewing UK Parliament constituency boundaries in Scotland and the current review will conclude with a formal report and recommendations in June 2023 for 57 constituencies, two fewer than at present.
The Commission has prepared these Revised Proposals after considering the responses to its consultations on the Initial Proposals which were published in October 2021 and again in February 2022 when the Commission held five public hearings.
For the 2023 Review, Scotland has been allocated 57 constituencies, two fewer than at present.
England has been allocated 543 (+10), Northern Ireland 18 (no change) and Wales 32 (-8).
As set out in legislation, each of the remaining 55 constituencies must -
• Be within five per cent of the UK electoral quota of 73,393 (ie to have between 69,724 and 77,062 electors), except where a constituency is larger than 12,000 square kilometres when it may have fewer than 69,724 electors; and
• not exceed the maximum permitted area of 13,000 square kilometres.
Lord Matthews, Deputy Chair of the Boundary Commission for Scotland, said: “We are grateful for the responses received during our previous consultations including those presented at the five public hearings that we held across Scotland earlier this year.
"We have considered all representations very carefully and, where possible, have tried to respond positively to suggestions.
Among the changes from the Initial Proposals are
The consultation will run until December 5.
Members of the public and interested parties can view the Revised Proposals and submit comments on the Commission’s consultation site at www.bcs2023review.com.
The newly proposed areas will consist of Aberdeenshire North and East Moray - This takes on coastal areas running west to east from Elgin to Cruden Bay taking in Buckie, Cullen, Portsoy, Aberchirder inland to Plaidy, New Byth , Banff, Macduff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Crimmond, and Cruden Bay
Aberdeenshire Central which covers inland areas including Huntly, Meldrum, Inverurie, Turriff, Ellon, Kintore, Rhynie, Lumsden, Balmedie ,Newmachar Newburgh, New Pitsligo, Striche and Maud.
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine covers the areas out to and including Ballater but also includes Alford, Monymusk and Kemnay.
