18 October (Part 2) - Thamesmead and Plumstead
I
don’t suppose many people are interested in Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries
and probably I wouldn’t be either if it wasn’t for the fact I live on what has become
some sort of parliamentary fault line. I used to be in David Evennett’s constituency
and now I am in Teresa Pearce’s. Last year the Boundary Commission suggested it was
time to change everything around again which in principle must be an equitable thing
as the electoral system is currently heavily weighted in Labour’s favour. The proposals
put me outside Teresa’s patch by 50 yards or so. I saw only one benefit to that, the
dilemma of whether or not I was going to have to vote Labour for the first time in my life was removed.
Bexley’s Conservatives saw bigger problems. The prospect of their traditional
strongholds being weakened, so they approved an official
Bexley council motion
which was no more than a blatant piece of attempted gerrymandering. The basic idea was
to shunt Conservative voters who were surplus to requirements in a Tory
stronghold into a marginal area in the hope of turning it blue and conversely to
drag voters in a Labour area into a strong Conservative area where their
influence would be lost and create a new Tory area. A cunning if dishonest
political plan given the authority of Bexley council’s official stamp. Cheating is
their norm.
Fortunately the Boundary Commission found no more difficulty than I did in seeing
straight through Bexley’s trickery and has come up with another revised plan. It may
be fair but I’m not sure I like it. I will be lumped in with Plumstead and half of
Woolwich, which I occasionally pass through but only when I really have to. On the other
hand my dilemma is removed. I don’t have to vote Labour and Teresa Pearce will
still get in. I call that having my cake and eat it.
You may see proposals for your own constituency at
the Boundary Commission’s website. The Commission’s report is
here.
I am now on standby for a telling off by my MP.