Boundary bosses reject Lib Dem proposals to bring parts of Sefton into the West Lancashire constituency

Oct 18 2012 by Rob Pattinson, Ormskirk Advertiser

PROPOSALS to bring parts of Sefton into the West Lancashire constituency have been rejected in the latest Boundary Commission report.

Last October Liberal Democrats in Southport put forward alternative electoral boundary plans to create a new constituency which would bring Aughton and Ormskirk as well as parishes as far east as Wrightington and Up Holland together with Formby.

A new Southport constituency would have included the parishes of Hesketh with Becconsall, Tarleton and North Meols. Under the original Boundary Commission proposals, the existing West Lancs Parliamentary boundaries remained unchanged, and in revised proposals published this week following a consultation period the commission has maintained that view. In the report the commission said that no alterations had proved necessary for West Lancs given the desire to effect the “minimum possible change”.

It read: “We accept that the West Lancashire constituency should remain the same.”

In response to the findings, MP Rosie Cooper said: “I'm glad that we now have the final proposals from the Boundary Commission.

“Throughout this process there has been speculation about potential reconfigurations.I've always said the existing West Lancashire constituency is well-established and is unique in bordering seats in the three neighbouring areas of Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. I was always clear that whatever West Lancashire was to look like at the next general election, I would just carry on with my job of fighting hard on the issues that really matter to West Lancashire.”

Areas of Sefton are set for change in the proposals, but the chances of the boundary commission’s report going forward now appear unlikely as Lib Dems are expected to vote against the redrawing of constituency boundaries after the Conservatives blocked Lords reform.