Tories could win Sedgefield under region's new electoral map (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Tories could win Sedgefield under region's new electoral map
12:10am Tuesday 13th September 2011 in News
By Robert Merrick, Parliamentary Correspondent
Tories could win Sedgefield under region's new electoral map
THE Conservatives are today handed the tantalising prospect of snatching Tony Blair's old seat of Sedgefield, as part a dramatic rewriting of Britain's electoral map.
An election expert predicted the new-look Sedgefield and Yarm seat - taking in chunks of the current Stockton South seat, including Eaglescliffe and Ingleby, as well as Yarm - could by claimed by the Tories at the next election.
Click here to view a map showing the proposed new constituencies
Meanwhile, the redrawn Darlington and Middlesbrough South and Guisborough seats were also predicted to be winnable for the Conservatives, in what promised to be a revival in the south of the region.
The verdict will spark fresh controversy over the changes, which will cull 50 UK seats by 2015 - to end what the Conservatives believe is a strong Labour bias in the current set-up.
Last night, one Labour MP said the trend would be echoed across Britain, creating more marginal seats where the party would need to win over non-Labour voters in order to seize back power.
Jenny Chapman - while insisting her own Darlington seat would remain Labour - said: "We will need to appeal to white van man and people who want to set up a free school, for example.
"We will need to be less focused on our core vote and more on the centre-ground of politics. This could result in a very different Labour party."
The threat to Labour was emphasised by Lewis Baston, of the research group Democratic Audit, who said: "There could be Conservative MP for Sedgefield at the next election - which I'm sure the party would like very much.
"And when you look at the proposed changes to the Darlington seat, it is realistic for them to hope to take both seats, if they do well at the next election."
In the North-East, three of the 29 seats will disappear, one in the south of the region and two in Tyne and Wear, where Blaydon and North Tyneside will go. No constituency will be untouched.
North Yorkshire retains eight constituencies, but they are redrawn so that chunks of Foreign Secretary William Hague's Richmond seat go into a new Malton constituency - with other parts of the current Thirsk and Malton seat gained.
All the region's new constituencies will have between 72,810 and 80,473 voters, requiring them to cross council and natural boundaries to achieve near-equal size.
The Boundary Commission said the current Darlington seat was large enough to survive the shake-up, but the other changes made it necessary to bring in two Tory-inclined wards, from Sedgefield.
Ms Chapman said the inclusion of the Heighington and Coniscliffe and Hurworth wards made sense because of school catchment areas, adding: "I'm happy with it."
As well as four solely County Durham seats, a further one - the proposed Consett and Barnard Castle constituency - would take in two wards in Northumberland.
A significantly altered Bishop Auckland constituency includes the towns of Crook and Spennymoor, while North Durham is renamed Chester-le-Street, to include the Burnopfield and Dipton ward from the existing North West Durham constituency.
The new Durham constituency includes Ferryhill and Trimdon wards, but no longer extends west of Brandon. Easington is largely unchanged, but with the inclusion of Thornley and Wingate wards, from Sedgefield.
A new Stockton and Billingham seat allows almost all of the town of Stockton-on-Tees to be included in a single constituency. Thornaby-on-Tees is included in the proposed Middlesbrough constituency.
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland would be renamed Middlesbrough South and Guisborough, to include Normanby,Ormesby, and St Germain's wards.
Last night, James Wharton, the Conservative MP for Stockton South, declined to reveal his own future plans, but said: "These are substantial changes to the map. There are lots of marginal seats.
"But the important aspect is the principle that we should have fewer seats in constituencies of equal size."
But Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, accused the Conservatives of "gerrymandering" the electoral system, although the party said it would "engage constructively" with the commission's consultation process.
The shake-up has already triggered furious protests from many Labour MPs, who have warned that tens of thousands of unregistered "ghost" voters are not being counted.
But it must first be voted through parliament in 2013, in what is likely to be another Coalition flashpoint, dividing the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
What do you think of the changes? Do Barnard Castle, Consett and Haltwhistle fit together? What about Sedgefield and Yarm? We want to hear from you - have your say below.
Comments(40)
melwilson
says...
10:17am Tue 13 Sep 11
Oh & the Tories can dream on ....
MSG
says...
10:19am Tue 13 Sep 11
Jolly Roger
says...
10:40am Tue 13 Sep 11
But I rather be grouped with Yarm than the Trimdons, Spennymoor any day.
melwilson
says...
10:49am Tue 13 Sep 11
MSG wrote:MSG & Hurworth move to Darlo but Sadberge & Whessoe stay with Sedgefield & Yarm
Does anyone know if Middleton St George, Hurworth & Sadberge ended up in Darlington, or stayed in the new Sedgefield ward ?
viccarlton
says...
11:14am Tue 13 Sep 11
Jolly Roger wrote:So it's plain to see that you'll be happy when Dodgy Dave and his cronies come canvassing.
I don't care where I am as I know where I live and the so called MP's could NOT care less about who voted them in once there are in parliament in London. But I rather be grouped with Yarm than the Trimdons, Spennymoor any day.
Jolly Roger
says...
11:25am Tue 13 Sep 11
Mr A
says...
11:30am Tue 13 Sep 11
Now we have this fiasco coalition government you can have my vote whoever is in the Labour seat at the time
whitbyguy
says...
12:42pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Jaga
says...
3:35pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Sooner dodgy Dave than the deficit deniers, who roll over as soon as Brendan Barber and/or his trolls pipe up. Ask yourselves what Labour has done for the region. Just look at how many manufacturing jobs vanished during the last Labour administration. Like them or loath them, the Tories brough Nissan the the region.
viccarlton
says...
3:56pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Jaga wrote:Indeed the Tories did bring Nissan to the region thanks to a massive subsidy to the Japanese country, did they not also put the final nail in the coffin of heavy industry in this region?
So Jenny Chapman wants to appeal to people who want to set up a free school. That’s her in trouble with Andy Burnham and Ed Millipede amonst others. Surely not grasping at straws already?
Sooner dodgy Dave than the deficit deniers, who roll over as soon as Brendan Barber and/or his trolls pipe up. Ask yourselves what Labour has done for the region. Just look at how many manufacturing jobs vanished during the last Labour administration. Like them or loath them, the Tories brough Nissan the the region.
Jaga
says...
4:05pm Tue 13 Sep 11
viccarlton wrote:Heavy industry was dying anyway. Poor management by the bosses and restrictive practices by the unions, particularly in ship building.
Jaga wrote:Indeed the Tories did bring Nissan to the region thanks to a massive subsidy to the Japanese country, did they not also put the final nail in the coffin of heavy industry in this region?
So Jenny Chapman wants to appeal to people who want to set up a free school. That’s her in trouble with Andy Burnham and Ed Millipede amonst others. Surely not grasping at straws already?
Sooner dodgy Dave than the deficit deniers, who roll over as soon as Brendan Barber and/or his trolls pipe up. Ask yourselves what Labour has done for the region. Just look at how many manufacturing jobs vanished during the last Labour administration. Like them or loath them, the Tories brough Nissan the the region.
MSG
says...
4:40pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Jolly Roger
says...
5:43pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Labour shut all the post offices when the country wanted the saved Did Mr Wilson vote what us in Sedgefield district wanted him to do , Not on your nelly he voted to shut them.
So what difference lossing a few seats and joinomg a differant area going to make, they will vote how the want and bugger us Just like now.
Dean M
says...
5:53pm Tue 13 Sep 11
.
Vote for me chaps, and we'll be fox hunting again within months .... afterwards we'll have a cheap pint and a cigarette inside a country pub...then off to Frankland Prison to witness the execution of a child killer.
.
Actually, it sounds good. Bring on the new constituencies!
viccarlton
says...
5:57pm Tue 13 Sep 11
spragger
says...
6:05pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Lets hope this makes Labour work a bit harder for the monkey vote.
Im not sure it will impact the Scarlet Pimpernel
Griffinboy
says...
6:53pm Tue 13 Sep 11
viccarlton
says...
6:59pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Griffinboy wrote:I sincerely hope you are not including me in that illustrious group? There is more chance of me winning the lottery than there is of me ever voting Tory, regardless of how bad their rivals are.
This page is full of idiot Tories, wait till you cant pay for your electricity because the Tories palls want every penny out of your pockets so they can have their lives of luxury. Grow up you fools
ozcat
says...
7:10pm Tue 13 Sep 11
remember the 2009 sedgefield election???
Tory Shirley Bowes made an unwelcome piece in political history by failing to attract a single vote - not even her own.
Dean M
says...
8:24pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Griffinboy wrote:Yes, after 13 years of Labour regulating the prices of the utility companies, the Tories repealed all that (a few weeks ago was it?) and now these companies can charge us what they want.
This page is full of idiot Tories, wait till you cant pay for your electricity because the Tories palls want every penny out of your pockets so they can have their lives of luxury. Grow up you fools
.
Review what you're saying before you post it - you may just realise it makes no sense and it may save you looking like a fool again.
vince.crosby
says...
8:40pm Tue 13 Sep 11
Jen204
says...
10:31pm Tue 13 Sep 11
I went on holiday to Barnard Castle last year!
There should be a limit to the area, not just the number of MPs.
Catherine Gilsenan
says...
10:58pm Tue 13 Sep 11
MSG was, I feel, mistakenly put in Sedgefield at the last Review. Totally wrong! Now we will be with Ingleby Barwick etc! I have nothing against these other localities, but we should be in Darlington!
Why are Hurworth and Heighington being put in Darlington, while MSG is ostracised?
The ironic thing is that the Public Hearings for Darlington are being held in MSG - at St George's Hotes at the Airport!
Boundary Commission Constitency Changes. Public Hearings 17/18 November 2011 St George Hotel, DTV Airport. Register to speak, come along, or have your say on the website! Spread the word, and exercise your democratic right to cast your vote where and how you want!
Public Hearings
http://consultation.
boundarycommissionfo
rengland.independent
.gov.uk/public-heari
ngs/darlington/
Have your say!
http://consultation.
boundarycommissionfo
rengland.independent
.gov.uk/have-your-sa
y/
melwilson
says...
11:45am Wed 14 Sep 11
Catherine Gilsenan wrote:Yeah, my apologies, I thought they'd moved to Darlo.
Middleton St George is being put into Sedgefield and Yarm.
MSG was, I feel, mistakenly put in Sedgefield at the last Review. Totally wrong! Now we will be with Ingleby Barwick etc! I have nothing against these other localities, but we should be in Darlington!
Why are Hurworth and Heighington being put in Darlington, while MSG is ostracised?
The ironic thing is that the Public Hearings for Darlington are being held in MSG - at St George's Hotes at the Airport!
Boundary Commission Constitency Changes. Public Hearings 17/18 November 2011 St George Hotel, DTV Airport. Register to speak, come along, or have your say on the website! Spread the word, and exercise your democratic right to cast your vote where and how you want!
Public Hearings
http://consultation.
boundarycommissionfo
rengland.independent
.gov.uk/public-heari
ngs/darlington/
Have your say!
http://consultation.
boundarycommissionfo
rengland.independent
.gov.uk/have-your-sa
y/
I totally agree, like my village, MSG is Darlo borough so we should all be together!
David Lacey
says...
3:15pm Wed 14 Sep 11
.
The new constituency boundaries may not be perfect and some tinkering may take place after consultation, but they are a big improvement on the existing demarcation lines. And don't forget that a reduction in the number of overpaid underworked MPs will save over 7.5% of the budget.
Jen204
says...
4:24pm Wed 14 Sep 11
I know it is possible to do things online now. In fact, I usually communicate with Pat Glass, my hardworking MP, online. However, many areas in rural parts of Northumberland and Durham cannot get broadband. Many elderly people in this area do not want to use computers to contact anyone.
From Berwick down to Barnard Castle, there will be three MPs in the rural areas.
That's three MPs to cover over 5000 sq km.
I bet the electoral commission did not consult anyone in the North East.
And it will not save over 7.5% of the budget. How much extra in travel expenses will our MPs need to claim?
simpsonm
says...
4:51pm Wed 14 Sep 11
spragger
says...
6:56pm Wed 14 Sep 11
vince.crosby wrote:Cancelled out by the Scarlet Pimpernel, Stuart Bell the Boro's answer to a sleeper cell
I shudder to even think about a tory taking over or even representing me in parliament. I once lived in a constituency who did not represent his people and spent more time with his banker friends and other money people so much so that people thought him to be an utter waste of time that in 1997 what was classed as a safe Tory seat went over to Labour.
stuartteeside
says...
10:41pm Wed 14 Sep 11
vince.crosby
says...
11:41pm Wed 14 Sep 11
David Lacey wrote:Just to correct you David but the electorial Commission is the body that oversees elections, the body we are talking about now is the Boundary Commission whilst I do agree that they have been working on it for years it will continue even after the next election until someone say that boundary's should be based on geographical boundary's and not on the number of electors in any given ward the government have said that each division at a parliamentary level should be 76,000 but whilst they are building houses it will change by the time the publication the only area in the whole of England that won't change is the Isle of White with 100,000 people.
What a bunch of whingers! The Electoral Commission has been working on this issue for several years in order to reflect the changes in population due to shift and to even out the size of constituencies. How on earth anyone with a brain larger than a pea can drag politics into this proposal is ridiculous. The Electoral Commission is NOT a Tory invention but to read some of the daft statements above you would be forgiven for thinking that it is.
.
The new constituency boundaries may not be perfect and some tinkering may take place after consultation, but they are a big improvement on the existing demarcation lines. And don't forget that a reduction in the number of overpaid underworked MPs will save over 7.5% of the budget.
Catherine Gilsenan
says...
11:58am Thu 15 Sep 11
David Lacey
says...
12:48pm Fri 16 Sep 11
Catherine Gilsenan
says...
2:22pm Fri 16 Sep 11
How on earth have they come up with such a ridiculous map?
There is no sense or logic to it at all?
tomtopper
says...
12:03pm Sat 17 Sep 11
David Lacey
says...
4:28pm Sat 17 Sep 11
The production of this report took a long time and was the culmination of detailed research carried out by a team of civil servants. You may not like their conclusions and that is your right. But there will be plenty of people who understand why the map was redrawn this way and are happy with the result. Surely you don't think that it was a 5 minute back of a fag packet job?
.
I reiterate, your comment was trite and you should apologise.
David Lacey
says...
4:29pm Sat 17 Sep 11
The production of this report took a long time and was the culmination of detailed research carried out by a team of civil servants. You may not like their conclusions and that is your right. But there will be plenty of people who understand why the map was redrawn this way and are happy with the result. Surely you don't think that it was a 5 minute back of a fag packet job?
.
I reiterate, your comment was trite and you should apologise.
Catherine Gilsenan
says...
12:07am Sun 18 Sep 11
David Lacey
says...
5:55pm Sun 18 Sep 11
.
You should apologise.
Graeme_r
says...
1:08pm Mon 19 Sep 11
viccarlton says...
4:25am Tue 13 Sep 11