Boundary Changes, What Do You Think?

[youngmafbog]

Boundary changes to reduce number of MP's and re-balance the numbers in each constituency, announced last week although I dont recall seeing them in the MSM.

Views?

https://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6489

[New Judge]

And so to revert to the question, youngmaf (!) to have and significance the boundary changes need to be accompanied by a radical revision of the number of MPs (and I think 400 would be only a start) together with a complete re-think about an Upper House.

[jim360]

"But with a people:reprentatives ratio of six times smaller I don’t recall ever hearing that the US suffers from a lack of representation."

Your comparison with the US suffers, though, when you also take into account elected representatives at the state legislatures, or the governors, or the county officials, town officials, mayors, sheriffs, judges, school board members...

[New Judge]

"Your comparison with the US suffers, though, when you also take into account elected representatives at the state legislatures, or the governors, or the county officials, town officials, mayors, sheriffs, judges, school board members... "

No it doesn't because I have not included in the UK figures such as devolved Parliamentarians, local councillors, elected mayors, local assemblies (such as the GLA), mayors, parish councillors, police commissioners, etc. etc. I'm simply comparing national government numbers.

[jim360]

Fine, but there is still the importance of the role reversal. In the US, the Federal government is probably not as central to most US citizens' lives as the state legislatures, whereas here the local government is probably seen as much less important.

Still, that aside, I agree that a more sweeping reform than just tweaking the boundaries is probably important. For myself, I think that the number of MPs is reasonable -- if they are meant to represent their constituents then ideally you'd want as small a ratio as possible without being excessive. 100000:1 or thereabouts ought to be an upper limit (I think that would give a House size of something in the region of 550). And yes, as part of that you could/should also reform the Lords, although I quite like the idea of having a second, amending chamber filled by appointed members -- never been much a fan of two houses both alike in composition competing against each other. The current system sees the Lords fulfilling a vital role of amending legislation while being subservient to the lower one ultimately, and that seems a nicer balance.

[New Judge]

Yes I agree with the role of the Lords as you describe Jim. But I do not agree with a house of >800 people, many of whom are appointed on the basis of no realistic merit for the job and many of whom make little or no contribution to the House's work. It should be a forum limited to a specific number and its members should be appointed for the skills and experience they can bring to a revising House. And it should remain subservient to the Commons.

[jim360]

You could probably go some way towards reducing the size of the HoL by stripping it of the remaining Lords Spiritual, imposing a term limit of, say, 20 years, and removing the remaining hereditary peers. Then membership presumably could start to decrease again naturally, without having been too radical to get there.

[ToraToraTora]

let's be radical jim

[jim360]

I'm all for being radical, even in this case, but the last few years in particular have been marked by a series of failed attempts to get the kind of Lords reform we'd need. So I figured being a bit more pragmatic for a change might be a good idea.

[jno]

it was announced more than a week ago (perhaps the BBC isn't MSM?)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41643467

But I think it is now more likely to be discussed in local papers as a local issue.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/boundary-commission-changes-recommendation-over-jaywick-being-taken-into-north-east-essex-1-5239001
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/boundary-commission-announces-proposals-that-shake-up-hertfordshire-parliamentary-constituencies/story-30531110-detail/story.html
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/south-ayrshire-could-lose-one-11398830

and so on.

[jno]

it's odd that some people say we need far fewer MPs because the USA manages without, while also demanding that we do away with mayors, regional parliaments and local authorities, which is how the USA actually functions. Looks like a programme for the worst of all worlds to me. Who are you going to complain to about potholes, one of those metropolitan elitists 50 miles away?

[bhg481]

How about populating the house of Lords with MPs who have served 5 full terms in the commons?
I was taught that the HoL was a collection of "Wise Old Men" whose job was to cross-check proposed legislation and prevent outrageous laws being passed eg, extending a parliament to 25 years. Allowing, but not forcing, experienced MPs to opt to move to the Lords could serve this purpose without the need for further elections and would prevent the Lords being populated with an outgoing PM's favourites, tus giving an unfair bias to his party inn the Lords.

[davegosling]

For one thing, there aren't anywhere near enough physical seats in the Commons :-)

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-maximum-seating-capacity-of-the-UK-House-of-Commons

[Peter Pedant]

650 to 600 sound good to me

there is a gerrymandering committee so it is all pukka ( they er make sure there ISN'T gerrymandering by having a general membership )

[Peter Pedant]

// How about populating the house of Lords with MPs who have served 5 full terms in the commons? //

I was taught that the HoL was fuill of gaga old men who were time-servers and placemen
and this suggested measure will just make it All Worse

[jim360]

How about filling the HoL with experts in their field, too? Scientists, economists, young people who are just exceptionally clever and also modest...

[jno]

lazy millennials still living at home would be more representative...

[cassa333]

While I applauded the reason behind it I think they should thin out the Lords first.

However in our area they are also doing it on a local councillor level as well.

For instance the 'village' I live in it is proposed it is simply cut in half and given to the village three miles away. Bizarrely our parish council offices will then be in a different catchment area.

[New Judge]

"Who are you going to complain to about potholes, one of those metropolitan elitists 50 miles away?"

No. To the local executive that runs the pothole division for your area. There's no need for elected politicians to oversee the mending of potholes.