Huge constituency changes for Runcorn and Widnes recommended

It comes as the Boundary Commission for England has today, Wednesday, published its final recommendations for new constituency boundaries.

This follows submission of its final recommendations report to the Speaker of the House of Commons yesterday, and that report now being laid before Parliament.

The commission says it has now fulfilled its statutory responsibilities, and the submission of the report and its publication ends its involvement in the 2023 Boundary Review.

The Government now has four months to bring forward an Order to give effect to the final recommendations.

Through the proposed shakeup of England’s electoral map, the constituency of Halton – currently held by Labour’s Derek Twigg MP and which includes Widnes and most of Runcorn – would cease to exist and two new Parliamentary seats would be created.

One would be called Widnes and Halewood, and would combine the town of Widnes with Halewood, Tarbock Green and Cronton.

Weaver Vale – currently represented by Labour’s Mike Amesbury MP and which includes parts of east Runcorn – would be split up, with the whole of Runcorn being combined into one constituency called Runcorn and Helsby, while the other parts of Weaver Vale would form a new Mid Cheshire seat.

A map showing the current constituencies outlined in blue and proposed changes in green (Image: Crown)

The changes would only impact on how votes are counted during general elections.

Halton Council wards would remain the same, and Halton would still remain a single borough under one local authority.

Secretary to the Commission, Tim Bowden, said: “The recommendations we have published today mark the end of a thorough and consultative process to build the new map of Parliamentary constituencies.

“We have taken into account over 60,000 public comments, travelled the country, and heard many passionate views about how best to reflect local community ties in our recommendations.

“We are confident that our final recommendations are the best reflection of the statutory rules Parliament has set us.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has participated in the 2023 Boundary Review.”

On a regional level, the number of constituencies in the north west will decrease from 75 to 73.

By law, every constituency recommend by the commission must contain between 69,724 and 77,062 Parliamentary electors.

The commission said that as far as possible, it tried to take account of local ties, geographic factors, local government boundaries, existing constituencies and minimising disruption caused by proposed change.