Cheadle and Gatley Lib Dems are moving
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by Lib Dem team on 16 March, 2012
A Labour proposal to split Cheadle, and Cheadle Hulme, in half is being strongly opposed by the Lib Dems.
The Boundary Commission is considering where to draw the new parliamentary boundaries. Their initial report doesn’t rule out a Labour proposal to take the Cheadle Hulme North ward into Stockport Constituency. The Labour proposal to split Cheadle is to save some of their seats elsewhere in Greater Manchester.
That would mean the centre and west side of Cheadle village staying in Cheadle constituency with Cheadle Green, Queens Gardens and the whole Councillor Lane area hived off into Stockport Constituency.
The part of Cheadle Hulme north of Ladybridge Road and Albert Road would move into Stockport Constituency, whilst the area to the south stayed in Cheadle.
The Labour proposal is to split two communities down the middle – Cheadle village and Cheadle Hulme – and hive them off into a constituency where there are no historical or geographical links.
Cheadle deserves its own voice in Parliament. It makes a big difference having an MP standing up for Cheadle when we need national support for our area.
6 Comments
What gives Labour the right when there is no way they would ever win the Cheadle seat are we a democracy or do we not have any say bring back Oliver Cromwell.
Well if we are talking democracy, what gives this government the right to disenfranchise people by moving the boundaries at all, when its just to suit the Tories. Now THAT’s undemocratic!!
Alan, Boundary reviews are regular events, and the last one happened under Labour (and resulted in boundaries which are very helpful to Labour, of course).
If you don’t review boundaries, you end up with different seats having massively different numbers of voters as people move into some areas and away from others and that’s certainly undemocratic.
We accept the need for boundary reviews, but we will fight for our local area to be properly and sensibly represented, not carved up to help one party win more seats elsewhere.
The Boundary Commission for England http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/
is an independat body now charged with making sure that the parliamentary constituencies are all about the same size, which seems a fair approach.
It is not under the control of the Coalition Government or any political party.
We can all make representations on the proposed boundary changes (not just political parties seeking advantage).
Labour’s proposals may not have much merit – but neither does Cale Green being in Cheadle constituency when its a few hundred yards from the centre of Stockport!
The Lib Dems have not objected to this as presumably its not disadvantageous to them due to the highish Labour vote that can be “turned over” to the Lib Dems at the next Parliamentary election by playing on dislike for the Tories so helping retain Cheadle for the Lib Dems.
In terms of community Cheadle has much more in common with Handforth – so instead of Cale Green why not include Handforth? Local Authority boundaries can be ignored now as is the case with Poynton being included with parts of Stockport. This idea should also allow the areas of Cheadle Hulme mentioned to remain in Cheadle constituence.
However, such a change would make it harder for the Lib Dems to retain Cheadle so presumably won’t find much support from them.
As you say, all parties can make proposals and all have.
Our proposals do not suggest splitting Cheadle down the middle – or splitting any other community in the area. We’re aware that the boundary commission can be heavily influenced by the proposals made by political parties, which is why we’re opposing the Labour plans
THe Boundary Commission have a map, constituency by constituency showing their proposals.Theres agood fit as North Bramhall runs along Bramhall Lane South into
Davenport Its interesting to look at the mishapen map arising from the Labour proposals.
Actually part of Cheadle Hulme is in the ward ! It contained one of the three local post offcies within Cheadle Huklme which was closed by the last government.
Everyone had the opportunity to comment between early March and 3rd April. I did ;I hoep others did.