Meriden and Knowle to become part of Coventry under boundary change plans
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 4:53 pm
The Telegraph understands the areas governed by Solihull Council will form part of the Coventry North West seat
Controversial boundary change plans could see Meriden and Knowle brought into Coventry, the Telegraph understands.
The Boundary Commission has been conducting a review of parliamentary seat boundaries in a bid to bring down the number of MPs.
Planned changes are set to be officially announced tomorrow, but sources in Westminster have already leaked some of the information to the Telegraph. There will be a period of public consultation on the plans before any changes are finalised.
It is understood Coventry North West, the seat held by Labour’s Geoffrey Robinson, will be the most dramatically hit with Knowle and Meriden set to move into the constituency.
The re-jig will also see some areas of Coventry North West moved into Coventry South - the seat occupied by Labour’s Jim Cunningham.
Interestingly, under Labour rules, Geoffrey Robinson could have a claim to be the candidate for Coventry South as a result of a large swathe of his constituency being moved into another. Coventry South would become a much safer Labour seat under the changes, while Coventry North West could easily be claimed by the Conservatives at the next election if the changes go ahead.
The changes would leave Coventry North West and Coventry South with approximately 77,000 voters each.
It is understood Coventry North East, held by Labour’s Colleen Fletcher, will be unaffected.
What would happen to the Meriden seat currently held by Tory Caroline Spelman is unclear, but it is thought it is likely to be scrapped under plans to reduce the number of West Midlands MPs by six to 53.
These plans do not impact on council boundaries.