Special Nub News Report on Boundary Changes: How they will drastically affect our Hitchin seat to encompass Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Shefford, Clifton and Chicksands
By Layth Yousif
21st Feb 2023 | Local News
Special Nub News Report on Boundary Changes and how they will drastically affect Hitchin
Special Report on Parliamentary Boundary Changes: Hitchin set for widespread revision to encompass Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Shefford, Clifton and Chicksands.
The Hitchin parliamentary seat is set to alter dramatically amid substantial boundary changes in our area.
The Hitchin and Harpenden constituency with present incumbent Bim Afolami MP as our town's representative in Westminster, is set to cleave into separate and distinct segments.
The new seat, which will be known purely as 'Hitchin' will encompass widescale changes, with Mr Afolami's current Hitchin and Harpenden constituency being scrapped.
Hitchin and Harpenden MP' is Bim Afolami: But for how much longer?
Speaking exclusively to Hitchin Nub News at the time of the original boundary commission back in the summer of 2021, Mr Afolami reflected on the then embryonic changes, saying: "It is an interesting proposal.
"But I would caution against getting too excited about the initial phase of the boundary commission work - there is a long and meticulous process which continues for the best part of two years, so a long way to go.
"I personally love my seat just the way it is and I think the fabric of its community represents the very best of Hertfordshire.
"Unfortunately though I don't get to determine, approve or vote on the final iteration of these proposals (and that's probably a good thing!)."
Fast forward nearly two years and, instead the forthcoming reality is that there will be a Hitchin seat, and a Harpenden and Berkhamsted seat in Parliament.
The new Hitchin constituency would encompass Mid Beds - including Shefford, Henlow, Clifton and Chicksands - which are represented by MP Nadine Dorries at the moment. Stotfold and Arlesey - now within the North East Beds MP remit would also fall within the Hitchin constituency.
The Hitchin boundary cut off would fall just below Kimpton, near Blackmore End.
Why is the Hitchin Parliamentary seat changing
The map of Parliamentary constituencies is revised every few years, to ensure, as population demographics alter, MPs are able to faithfully continue to represent similar numbers of voters in every seat.
The latest review is now near completion.
The new electoral map in our area is in the process of redrawing parts of Hertfordshire, with Hitchin very much at the forefront of electoral changes, which will also result in our region gaining three new constituencies.
The current constituency boundaries have been in use since 2010. Neither of the two previous boundary reviews that took place in 2013 and 2018, were adopted.
Special Nub News Report on Boundary Changes: How they will drastically affect our Hitchin seat to encompass Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Shefford, Clifton and Chicksands
What Happens Next
The 2023 Review is being conducted under rules laid down by Parliament, which retains the number of constituencies in the UK at 650 and requires the number of electors in each constituency to be broadly similar to each other.
For this review most constituencies in England must have no fewer than 69,724 and no more than 77,062 electors - and so in the proposals, the number of constituencies increases from 533 to 543.
The 2023 Review was formally launched on 5 January 2021 and must be completed by 1 July 2023.
Read Hitchin Nub News for all the latest on these seismic changes to our town's seat ahead of the forthcoming 2024 General Election
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