Lords vote to stall boundary changes
PLANS to change voting boundaries and reduce the number of MPs have been blocked by the House of Lords.
Peers voted on Monday to delay the boundary review needed to reduce MP numbers until 2018.
Proposed boundary changes will see the creation of a Batley and Morley constituency, while Birstall will join a Spen Valley constituency.
A Downing Street spokesman said the government would try to overturn the Lords amendment when the plans were brought back to the House of Commons.
However Mike Wood said he hoped MPs would reinforce the Lords’ decision.
The Batley and Spen MP said: “I am delighted that Labour and Lib Dem peers in the House of Lords have succeeded in their bid to start to kill off this boundary review.
“If the government wants to talk about reforming Parliament and amending constituency boundaries properly then I think that is very worthwhile.
“But this process isn’t about that, it’s about naked gerrymandering with no regard for the damage that would be done to representational democracy.
“Any review that would seek to put Batley in Leeds and pair Spen Valley up with seats in south Bradford cannot be taken seriously.”
Kirklees Lib Dem leader Coun Kath Pinnock (Cleckheaton) said she was confident that the proposals would not approved.
“I’m absolutely delighted that the boundary changes have been kicked into the long grass.”
However Kirklees Conservative leader Robert Light said he was disappointed with the Lords vote.
He said: “Firstly I think everyone agreed that 50 less MPs would be a positive step forward, and secondly, the principle was to equalise the electorate across constituencies.
“Those who have blocked it have blocked democracy.”
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Weather for Batley
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
