'Parliamentary boundaries will be changing'

MP for Ellesmere Port

MANY of my constituents may be aware by now that Parliamentary boundaries will be changing at the time of the next General Election.

For the majority of the constituents I have been privileged to serve since 2015 – those living in Ellesmere Port itself – I will hopefully continue to be elected to represent them, but in a new constituency called ‘ Ellesmere Port and Bromborough’.

However, householders who live in and around Neston as far as the Cheshire border with Wirral will find themselves placed in a new constituency called ‘Chester North and Neston’.

And other residents living in villages such as Elton and Mickle Trafford and hamlets in between will be placed in a new constituency named ‘Runcorn and Helsby’. Indeed, it will be bizarre to many that once you cross over Hoole roundabout on the outskirts of Chester you will find yourself in a constituency with the town of ‘Runcorn’ in its title.

It’s all a bit strange I know, but the object of the exercise that the Boundary Commission was charged by the Government with carrying out was to create constituencies which have broadly speaking the same number of constituents – just over 70,000 – for almost all 650 constituencies nationwide. It means more constituencies for England but fewer for Wales and Scotland.

From the point of view of the Member of Parliament for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough constituency – hopefully me! – it will mean dealing with officials from two local authorities. I will continue to represent my constituents who live in the Cheshire West and Chester Council area but I will also be finding the best way of engaging with officials from the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral (Wirral Council) on behalf of communities such as Bebington, Bromborough and Eastham and as far away as New Ferry on the approach to Birkenhead.

Obviously a lot of preparatory work will need to be made under the new arrangements, but let me stress that nothing changes before the time of the next General Election, whenever that may be called. Until then I will continue to represent all those living in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency to the best of my ability, as I have done since the time I was first elected to Parliament, and indeed as I did as a councillor in Ellesmere Port for many years before that.

There will be new organisations to create for political parties and many new faces to meet but hopefully it will be made to work seamlessly by the time the next Parliamentary election is called – which is likely to be next year but in theory the Government could attempt to last out until the start of 2025.

In summary, let me place on record my sincere thanks to residents living in the Neston, Elton and elsewhere who have written to thank me for the efforts I have made on their behalf over a number of years.

I will be pleased to continue to do so happily until the time of the next General Election