Detailed proposals for changes to parliamentary constituencies have been announced. The plans are part of reforms which would see the House of Commons reduce from 650 MPs to 600. A public consultation is now under way and final proposals will not be made until 2018.

“I have concerns about the Boundary Commission’s plans in their current form. This review uses old data, ignoring two million newly registered voters. And shrinking the House of Commons whilst the number of unelected Peers in the Lords increases every year is wrong-headed and undermining of our democracy.

Rushanara said: 

“The report calls for parliamentary constituencies across the country to be more evenly sized, and aims to reduce the overall number from 650 to 600. My constituency of Bethnal Green and Bow will be affected, but so will 9 out of 10 constituencies across the country. In London 95% of constituencies may change in some way.

“This is the beginning of a two year-long process and reviews such as these happen quite regularly. The last took place before the 2010 General Election and show that the first plans, such as in this case, are in no way final.”