Politics

Northern Ireland’s Westminster constituenices cut from 18 to 17

Boundary Commission proposal to split Co Derry town in to three zones dropped

The changes come in an attempt to reduce number of Westminster MPs from 650 to 600. Photograph: iStock

Mon Sep 10 2018 - 21:23

Proposals to split a Co Derry town into three voting zones have been dropped as the final revised Westminster boundaries for Northern Ireland were published by the British government.

The number of constituencies in the North will be cut from 18 to 17 as part of a wider reform to reduce the number of MPs at the House of Commons from 650 to 600.

Dungiven in Co Derry was to be divided between three constituencies but the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland instead recommended the ward be transferred in its entirety from Mid Ulster to the former West Tyrone constituency, which will be renamed Sperrin.

Almost 10,000 petition signatures and letters were received by the commission, which was responsible for drawing up a new Northern Ireland constituencies map.

READ MORE

Approved

Final parliamentary boundaries were approved and published by the British government on Monday, largely as anticipated.

On Dungiven, the commission said: “We accept that this is an arguable point and acknowledge the weight of public support for it.”

It added: “A compromise solution is possible which would not require any wards to be split, namely to transfer Dungiven ward from Mid Ulster to Sperrin.”

Belfast retains its four constituencies.

"Many argued that Mallusk ward should remain in South Antrim rather than being transferred to Belfast North," the commission said.

“The main factors cited were to keep Mallusk within its existing constituency and to respect its predominantly rural character.

“We accept this argument and accordingly recommend that Mallusk should remain within the constituency of South Antrim.” – PA

LATEST STORIES