Anna Firth, Member of Parliament for Southend West, today spoke at the Boundary Commission hearing to oppose the proposed changes to constituency boundaries in Southend. Anna described the proposals as “bad for constituents, bad for communities, contrary to common sense and also contrary to Southend’s newly granted City status.”
The proposals, which move West Leigh Ward out of Southend West into Castle Point and move Eastwood and St Lawrence wards over to Southend East, have been criticised by residents who say it would fracture longstanding community ties and lower the quality of representation. Residents of West Leigh in particular expressed their view that they have closer ties to the existing Southend West constituency rather than the proposed Castle Point constituency.
The changes have been proposed in order to bring Southend West up to the required number of electors. Currently, the constituency is marginally under. The Conservative Party has proposed a much smaller change to Southend West’s boundaries, moving just one ward – St Luke’s – over from Southend East.
Following the Boundary Commission meeting, at which Mark Francois, Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford also spoke in opposition to the proposals, Anna said “I am glad to have spoken out against the proposed boundary changes in Southend. I have talked to many residents and it is clear to me that these changes are bad for the quality of representation in our area. Moving three wards into a new constituency to rectify a small imbalance in population: it simply makes no sense. I hope the commission recognises the strong views of residents in Southend, rejects the initial proposals and accepts the much more reasonable suggestion that St Luke’s be moved into Southend West to rectify the imbalance.”
