closeicon
News

Boundary changes could impact constituencies with large Jewish communities

Proposals published today would see the Finchley and Golders Green seat held by Conservative MP Mike Freer fall under a new Finchley and Muswell Hill seat

articlemain

Proposals to redraw constituency boundaries could see significant changes to seats that are home to UK Jewish communities, including Hendon and Golders Green becoming a single parliamentary seat.

Proposals published today would see the Finchley and Golders Green seat held by Conservative MP Mike Freer fall under a new Finchley and Muswell Hill seat. 

The new seat would see the five wards from the Finchley and Golders Green seat join with the Haringey wards of Fortis Green, Highgate and Muswell Hill.

The shake-up would also see the creation of a new Stanmore and Edgware constituency as well as changes to seats across Barnet.

In the north-west proposed boundary changes to Bury South would make it a strong contender as one of the most Jewish constituencies in the UK increasing the size of the communal vote.

The change in Bury, Kersal and Broughton Park would see it move from the City of Salford into Bury South.

Under proposals the Hendon and Golders Green constituency would comprise of seven wards from Hendon and two Brent wards of Kingsbury and Welsh Harp.

Matthew Offord is currently the MP for the existing Hendon constituency.

The changes have been recommended by the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) as part of its review of parliamentary constituencies and its aims to ensure the number of electors in each constituency is more equal.

If the proposals are accepted the number of constituencies in England would increase from 533 to 543.

In Barnet it would mean changes to the existing Chipping Barnet and Hendon constituencies which have electorates “above the upper limit.”

The East Barnet and Brunswick Park wards which currently fall in Chipping Barnet would move into a new Southgate and Barnet East constituency.

The Hampstead and Kilburn seat which is currently held by Tulip Siddiq would also be affected by the proposals. 

The proposed changes would see the creation of a new Camden Town and St John’s Wood seat and a West Hampstead and Kilburn seat.

Tim Bowden, Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Today’s proposals mark the first time people get to see what the new map of Parliamentary constituencies might look like.

“But they are just the Commission’s initial thoughts. Help us draw the line to make the number of electors in each Parliamentary constituency more equal.

“Each constituency we recommend is required by law to contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, meaning there will be significant change to current boundaries.

“We want to hear the views of the public to ensure that we get the new boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies right.”

In Hertfordshire, a reconfigured Watford constituency would include the Hertsmere ward of Bushey North.

The Commission will present final recommendations to Parliament by July 2023 and there will be a further two rounds of consultation in 2022.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive