Northern Ireland’s constituencies to be redrawn

Belfast is to lose an MP at the next election under proposed changes to Northern Ireland's constituencies.

The city is being redrawn into three Westminster divisions of Belfast East, Belfast North West and Belfast South West, creating the prospect of an election dogfight between high-profile nationalist and unionist politicians in the north and west.

The proposals will see Northern Ireland left with 17 MPs as part of a UK-wide shake-up to reduce numbers from 650 to 600 by the time of the next election in May 2020.

Outside of Belfast, six new constituencies are being created, provisionally called Dalriada, Glenshane, North Tyrone, Upper Bann and Blackwater, West Antrim and West Down.

Another eight would retain their names – East Antrim, Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Foyle, Newry and Armagh, North Down, South Antrim, South Down and Strangford – but see slight changes to boundaries.

Prof Peter Shirlow, of the Institute of Irish Studies in the University of Liverpool, said the boundary changes in north and west Belfast will lead to a fierce contest between Sinn Féin and the DUP in the next election.

“It will almost certainly make the contest tighter,” he said. “For every Protestant/ unionist ward you are taking out you are only replacing half of them. You should see a narrowing of the vote.”

The proposals from the Northern Ireland constituency review are the first part of a wider redrawing of boundaries across the UK. The public will be given a chance to comment on the changes before any revisions are published in early 2018. The Boundary Commission said the proposed constituencies fell within the UK quota range of no fewer than 71,031 voters and no more than 78,507.

– (PA)