Jarrow MP Kate Osborne promises to fight 'undemocratic proposals' for redrawing of boundaries

The Labour MP accused the Government of attempting to “gerrymander the electoral map” and said it would have been “wrong” to go ahead with the changes.

The Parliamentary Constituency Bill - which received its second reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday, June 2 - ended the previous coalition Government’s attempt to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600.

Under previous proposals published by the Boundary Commission in 2018 the Jarrow constituency was set to lose the East Boldon and Cleadon wards to South Shields, gaining wards from the neighbouring Gateshead area.

Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith said yesterday that the Parliamentary Constituency Bill would achieve “parity of representation for all electors”.

However, some MPs have argued that the new Bill would remove parliamentary scrutiny and allow recommendations from the Boundary Commission to go ahead without a vote.

Speaking to the House as MPs debated the reforms, Ms Osborne, commented: “I'm pleased that the government has agreed to Labour’s calls to scrap plans to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600.

“With the unprecedented issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, now more than ever, strong scrutiny of the Government is vital.

“The previous plans to remove 50 MPs would have weakened the role of Parliament, and with the workload of MPs set to increase after Brexit and now the global health crisis, it would have been wrong to go ahead with these changes.”

However, Ms Osborne, who was elected in December 2019, said she did not support any “undemocratic proposals” and promised to fight any plans that would negatively impact on her constituents.

She added: “Parliament has always had the final say over this crucial legislation and removing parliamentary scrutiny is worrying for the future integrity of our democracy.

“Labour will resist the present attempt to gerrymander the electoral map in favour of the Conservative Party.

“But if the Government does force the changes through, you can be sure that I will fight against any negative proposals against the Jarrow constituency every step of the way.”

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