2023 Review of Parliamentary constituencies

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is an independent and impartial non-departmental public body. It is responsible for periodically reviewing Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England.

The constituencies of England are being reviewed to reflect population change. It is the government’s aim that all Parliamentary constituencies contain roughly the same number of electors. Each constituency must contain no less than 69,724 and no more than 77,062 registered electors (as at the fixed date of 02 March 2020).

The initial proposals for the new constituency boundaries were published on 08 June 2021. There have been two rounds of statutory consultations relating to the initial proposals and 45,000 responses were received.

You can view maps showing the proposed new boundaries at www.bcereviews.org.uk

The commission has considered the 45,000 comments submitted by the public during the previous two stages of the public consultation. The third and final consultation on the map of the revised constituencies proposals is open now until 05 December 2022. After this final consultation has closed on 05 December, the Commission will analyse the responses and form it’s final recommendations. These will be submitted to Parliament by 01 July 2023.

How will it affect Wirral?

Currently there are four Parliamentary Constituencies in the borough:

1. Birkenhead Constituency
2. Wallasey Constituency
3. Wirral West Constituency
4. Wirral South Constituency

The proposals have three constituencies in Wirral that will contain the wards listed below in the tables. The Wirral South Constituency will be abolished. The existing Bromborough and Eastham Wards will become part of the renamed Ellesmere Port and Bromborough Constituency in Cheshire West and Chester Council.

New Proposals

1. Birkenhead Constituency
2. Wallasey Constituency
3. Wirral West Constituency

Birkenhead Constituency – Total Electorate 76,271 (as of 2 March 2020)

The proposed Birkenhead constituency would only be changed by the inclusion of the Bebington ward.

Wallasey Constituency - Total Electorate 73,054 (as of 2 March 2020)

The proposed Wallasey constituency would be changed by the inclusion of the northern half of the Upton Ward. The Upton Ward will be split along the physical boundary of the A5027.

Wirral West Constituency - Total Electorate 72,126 (as of 2 March 2020)

The proposed Wirral West constituency would be changed to include the southern half of the Upton Ward and gain the Heswall and Clatterbridge Wards.

Bromborough and Eastham Wards would be part of a constituency renamed as the Ellesmere Port and Bromborough constituency. These wards would remain part of Wirral Council and the Ellesmere Port and Bromborough Constituency would remain part of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Timetable of Boundary Commission Review

For more information please visit: BCE Consultation Portal (bcereviews.org.uk)

Why are parliamentary constituency boundaries being reviewed?

Parliament has asked the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) to rebalance the number of electors in each constituency. Due to population changes since the last review, the number of electors in some constituencies is much higher than in others. The 2023 Boundary Review will make sure each MP represents roughly the same number of electors (between 69,724 and 77,062). The number of constituencies in England must also increase from 533 to 543. The new map of constituencies proposed by the Commission therefore has significant changes.

Have the proposals changed since the first and second consultations?

Yes. During previous consultations, BCE asked you to comment on our initial proposals, first published last year. BCE has listened to the feedback sent in and developed new suggestions for constituency boundaries. These are available to view and comment on at bcereviews.org.uk.

How do BCE develop the proposals? 

BCE must keep to the rules set by Parliament, outlined above. They also take into account existing boundaries, local geography, and local ties. They know that local knowledge can help improve proposals, and have invited the public to participate in the final consultation. BCE will take into account every response when deciding on any changes to our revised proposals. Read their Guide to the Review for further information on this.

Will this review favour one political party over another? 

The Boundary Commission for England is independent and impartial. They do not take into account voting patterns or the results of elections when reviewing constituency boundaries. The political parties’ views on where boundaries should be do not carry any more weight than those of members of the public.

Will the changes affect my local council services? 

No. The boundary changes only relate to parliamentary constituencies (the area an MP is elected to represent in Parliament). Services and council tax are set by the local authority and this review does not change local authority boundaries. 

Will the name of my constituency change? 

The more a constituency has changed, the more likely it is that BCE will recommend a change of name. The Commission welcomes views on constituency names during the consultation.

What happens next, and when do the changes take effect? 

Once the consultation has closed on 5 December, the Commission will look at all the feedback sent in and consider whether any changes should be made to the revised proposals for constituency boundaries. Their final recommendations will be submitted to Parliament by 1 July 2023, and the new constituencies will take effect at the next General Election thereafter.