Forum Topic

Boundary Commission - Acton on the move

Looks like the proposal is to put Southfield in Chiswick and extend Acton Central down to Shepherd's Bush.Can see details and give feedback athttp://www.bce2018.org.ukNote - the map starts off fairly blank. Click on "Boundaries" at top left to turn on various labels and then zoom in/out.

Paul Webster ● 3514d43 Comments

Final recommendations are in.for Ealing / ActonEaling to grow a bit in the west and Acton to reduce a bit in south east (area to east of train line from High St down) to move into Chiswick.note — this is for parliamentary boundaries not local councilhttps://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6485
Green is final proposal (to be voted on in parliament) and Blue is existing.

Paul Webster ● 2787d

That's very true. The age of the email has meant that MPs are more accessible and as a result, especially in large urban areas, they have a bigger caseload than ever before. The other big problem with the current approach is that the Government reduced the degree of discretion available to the Boundary Commission in terms of variation from the theoretical average number of registered voters per constituency (74,769): it used to be plus or minus 10%, but is now a very strict plus or minus 5%. The Commission did not seek such a restriction - it just makes their job harder - and it is hard to escape the conclusion that the Government imposed it on a calculation of perceived party political advantage.It may not seem a big deal at first glance, but it's that change which has made it so hard for the Commission in London to devise seats that sit within a single borough. It has also meant that, because of relatively minor population shifts which 'bust' the new limits, each of the proposals since as recently as 2012 has proposed very different outcomes for communities like Acton. We should expect to see that volatility continue - certainly in London - with new boundaries at every election. Such a level of instability is not desirable.At this stage, the current legislation seems to have very few friends remaining in the Commons, even on the Conservative benches, so it will be interesting to see how things progress.

Steve Donnelly ● 3114d

However, MPs take on work for all in their constituency not just the electors.BC does not take into account the size of the population just the number of electors who can vote in general election.So for some areas, and I suspect Acton is one, there are a lot more than the  70,000 adults counted by BC (and their data is old anyway).

Paul Webster ● 3114d

The whole point of this exercise is to reduce the number of MPs we currently have and to save money. With all the cuts to services being made, isn't it a good thing that the government also makes a sacrifice? I hope it does happen.  650 MPs is far too many.

Tania Bapuji ● 3114d

All of the proposed new Ealing and Acton seat would be in L.B. Ealing, Sara. The four seats with which we would share a boundary all get split between two boroughs, but we escape that - as you rightly say - undesirable fate. Whether the reduction to 600 seats, that this review - like its two abandoned predecessors - was designed to facilitate, will actually ever take place is very much open to question. Who'd be a boundary commissioner? The job has become a Sisyphean task.Council wards, including Acton Central, are unaffected by this proposal, though a review of ward boundaries in Ealing is expected some time after the 2018 council elections - conducted by the separate Boundary Commission that handles local government. It will soon be 20 years since the last review of wards, and subsequent population growth, most notably in East Acton, means we can expect to see changes in place for the 2022 elections.

Steve Donnelly ● 3114d

Yes I think Acton Central is still there. Its most unclear where I go - I'm right on the blue line so will have to write for clarification....I really don't want to be in Brentford and Isleworth when I live in Acton!

Chris Hurley ● 3114d

We remain part of the Borough of Ealing, but our MP may be not be the same one as Ealing Broadway or other more central wards. I do urge people to use the link and have their say.

Maire Lowe ● 3114d

It does look much more coherent than the last proposal - what I couldn't work out though is whether we are all in the same Borough.... there is a lot to be said for that and certainly the earlier proposal had us split between Ealing and Hammersmith.Does Central Acton Ward remain? I couldnt see a table for it...or are we Wormholt and White City now? Surely not...

Sara Nathan ● 3115d

Doesnt make any difference - one is democracy, the other is London Transport.

Sara Nathan ● 3115d

What with one thing and another, it's unlikely that any of these boundary changes will go through. They're a product of a bygone age! 'Proposed by David Cameron..' who's he?

Peter Evans ● 3115d

That link goes to the original proposals.  This links to the article about the new proposals:http://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conboundarychanges002.htm

Peter Evans ● 3115d

Question- Zone wise, would this put parts of acton into zone 2, or does the make up not change?

Lee Harding ● 3115d

The fine art of making links work failed me again ... try copy/paste of thishttps://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6485?postcode=W52BY

Paul Webster ● 3115d

Revisions have been made and you now have a few weeks to respond before, in theory at least, it becomes final and enacted.The proposal is now very different and, I think, represents a much smaller change for Acton.Instead of the tie up with Shepherds Bush there has been an enlargement to the west and some reduction in the south west.Take a look at the map and click on Boundaries at the top of the map to change the overlays so that you can see the differences.https://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6485?postcode=W52BY

Paul Webster ● 3115d

posted! Lets not allow them to wipe Acton from the electoral map

Charlie Mawer ● 3325d

Deadline for comments is 27 March so hurry up and get your views known! This is what I said: I live in Southfields ward in Acton. I understand that the name Acton will disappear completely from the Parliamentary map. Rather than my current constituency of Ealing Central and Acton, the new proposed constituency is Brentford and Chiswick - both in the London Borough of Hounslow, whereas I live in Ealing. This proposal makes no sense to me and should be looked at again.

Chris Hurley ● 3325d

I meant the GLA,of course,and the useless unwanted and unloved Mayor,sorry!!!!

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3334d

Good news Dr John. Thatcher abolished the GLC in the 80s.

Robert Murray ● 3334d

However, these boundary changes are for the parliamentary seat not the local borough.

Paul Webster ● 3334d

Paul,Acton was of course never part of London,until  the formation of the GLC,before this it was in the County of Middlesex,Acton's name  comes from the Old OAK TOWN, hence the Acton coat of Arms embodying the Oak Tree.Unfortunately it became part of the enhanced London Borough of Ealing,and lost its fine status that it had,not for the better,Middlesex still exists,but not as the fine County it was sadly,I would love to see the GLC ABOLISHED? and a return to the good times of the past,the Councils now are too big,unmanageable,too costly,and not a patch on the old Borough Councils of the past,The Fine name of Acton and its boundaries should be kept as they are and preserved.John.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3334d

Paul, thank you for the reminder - comment submitted. Can I encourage others who think the name Acton should be preserved to add their comments? Using the link is very easy, and the map shows very few comments from our area (lots from Shepherds Bush...) Surely if enough of us protest and ask for the retention of the name Acton they might think again? Worth trying anyway, and it takes very little effort. It really is very irritating that they think Acton of so little worth that it can just disappear (electorally speaking).

Lorna Dodd ● 3342d

Round 2 has started - you have until end of March 2017 to get your input submittedFrom Ealing Council web site:Following a decision by Parliament to reduce the number of constituencies in the UK, London will see a reduction from 73 to 68.  This will mean that Ealing will see some changes before the next scheduled general election in 2020.It is proposed that:Ealing and Acton Central constituency will become Ealing Central and Shepherds Bush constituency, with wards added from Hammersmith and Fulham boroughNortholt West End and Northolt Mandeville will be moving to the Hillingdon and Uxbridge constituencySouthfield and Northfield wards will move to Brentford and Chiswick constituencyElthorne, Norwood Green, Southall Broadway, Southall Green and Walpole wards will move into another newly created constituency of Southall and Heston.An initial consultation on these changes was held in the autumn of 2016 and the responses received have been published as part of this second consultation.The second consultation opened on Tuesday 28 February and closes on Monday 27 March.  The BCE are looking for your views on the suggestions made during the first consultation.  You can support the proposals or counter-proposals, highlight issues with alternative ideas, comment on suggested names for the new constituencies and say where you think the BCEs original proposals are still the best solution. To view and comment on the consultation go to the BCE website, http://www.bce2018.org.uk/

Paul Webster ● 3343d

Although Andy Slaughter is now back as a Shadow minister, he did resign in June 2016, along with others, making several disparaging public statements about Jeremy Corbyn when he did so.  It could be that the local party membership will remember this when it comes to (re)selecting their candidate to stand in the next general election.

Peter Evans ● 3442d

In a way Marie has missed a bit of an open goal here if she wanted to score party political points. What the article made clear is that the Labour party's counter proposals to the Boundary Commission have been drawn up with the primary purpose of protecting the majority of Jeremy Corbyn and his loyalists and the subsidiary purpose of making life difficult for his opponents. The hanging out to try of David Lammy seems particularly reprehensible.That said this part of London seems less toxic in terms of internal Labour party disputes than elsewhere and although Rupa Huq will lose out there is a logic to trying to protect Andy Slaughter's majority. Both of them are Shadow Ministers but neither part of the inner circle so in West London the aim may actually be to maximise the number of winnable seats.

Andy Jones ● 3443d

He's obviously very in the know, it just puts me off Phillippa there is so much of it as you say but it distracts from the issues being discussed.

Janice Evans ● 3447d

If you mean Peter Evans' post I wouldn't just dismiss it. That was gentle considering the in-fighting and mess that our political parties seem to be in.

Philippa Bond ● 3447d

Also don't you find it a bit boring, when they just have to have a dig at the other party, whereas it starts off interesting and informative and ends with pointless words, I then dismiss the whole post.

Janice Evans ● 3447d

I agree with you Andy. Peter Evans' posts are informative as are yours. Could you tell us why someone who doesn't live in Acton is telling us about local Labour policy? We have nine Labour Councillors who might be considered to know a bit more but don't choose to write on this forum. Now that ward meetings with residents a are reduced to twice a year, it might be helpful to hear more from them.

Maire Lowe ● 3447d

Elements of the Acton Coat of Arms are incorporated in the London Borough of Ealing Coat of Arms, so why not Acton and Ealing.

Janice Evans ● 3449d

I find Peter's posts helpful and informative. I would assume he is in some way associated with the local Labour party. You can't click on his name because presumably he is not registered on the Acton site but has logged on from another.He is not wrong that the new seat is eminently winnable for Labour if the Conservatives are seriously split over the outcome of the Brexit negotiations which seems the most likely scenario. What he neglects to mention is that Labour is likely to be tearing itself apart at the same time. Rupa Huq's challenge is to distance herself as far as possible from her party's woes. The problem she has is that the seat as it stands could become a three party contest with the Lib Dems making a bit of a comeback and that could let the Conservatives back in as the anti-Brexit vote gets split.

Andy Jones ● 3451d

Who is Peter Evans and why can't we click on his name? He has the makings of a good comedian.

Maire Lowe ● 3454d

If you want to be a Boundary Commissioner - applications are now open.I think it closes around the 21st. Can't decide whether to go for it....

Sara Nathan ● 3455d

The Labour Party centrally has produced wide ranging counter proposals to feed into the boundary commission's consultation. There's an early report about their alternative plans for London at: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclusive-london-labours-secret-boundary-plans-would-save-jeremy-corbyn-seat-but-oust-senior-labour-mps_uk_57ee73afe4b0397f73b98537 - and details are in circulation to Party members. I don't think it's been left to individual MPs to come up with their own schemes.As Rupa Huq bucked the trend in the previous general election and was one of the few Labour gains, I don't see why she shouldn't do just as well next time round when the electorate has had more time to see just how unprincipled and chaotic the present Tory government really is.

Peter Evans ● 3455d

A couple of links that I included did not survive the forum postSo here is one of them .... which links to the redrawn map that AS submitted.https://www.scribd.com/mobile/document/329915722/Boundary-MapHe has proposed to leave Acton with Ealing.I understand from feedback from Rupa that there is an overarching counter proposal from London Labour that includes Ealing/Acton/Hammersmith along with the rest of London - and AS details are a subset of that..I have not found an official copy of their submission but there appears to be a leak to Huffington Post of what might be an early version.

Paul Webster ● 3455d

I think you find that Rupa Huq sits on her hands. She loses the Chiswick ward which in local elections is usually Lib Dem and gains Shepherd's Bush wards which have been solidly Labour. Andy Slaughter used to represent the Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush seat so he may have a case for challenging Rupa Huq - not sure how it will work.Even with the advantageous changes it doesn't look like a Corbyn led Labour party would hold the Ealing and Shepherd's Bush seat anyway so there is an element of deckchairs on the Titanic about this.

Paul Corcoran ● 3455d

Here is Andrew Slaughter's response to Boundary Commission.https://www.scribd.com/document/329915642/Response-Boundary-Commission-for-EnglandHe summarised as:The Boundary Commission for England has been instructed by the Government to reduce the number and change the boundaries of Parliamentary seats.  If you currently live in the Shepherds Bush part of the Hammersmith seat, the Commission proposes moving you to new seats in Brent or Ealing.  Anyone living south of the Goldhawk Road and south side of Shepherds Bush Green will join another new seat that includes south Fulham.College Park & Old Oak Ward, the area around Wormwood Scrubs, is, in terms of geography, economy, history and community ties, integrated into Hammersmith & Fulham.  It would be placed in the new Willesden constituency, otherwise exclusively comprised of Brent wards.  The rest of Shepherds Bush would form part of an Ealing seat, stretching beyond Ealing Broadway.In other words we would be split into three unequal and illogical parts, which I think is dis-functional and unnecessary.  You can read more about these plans here https://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6485.I will be submitting an alternative proposal which will keep Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush together and has a better solution for Fulham and Chelsea too. Full details of this can be found here , with a map of my proposal for the three central London boroughs here . The Commission has a duty to respect current Parliamentary constituencies as best they can, to keep communities together.  My proposal keeps all the current wards in the Hammersmith seat together so there is no disruption for local residents.I have asked if Rupa Huq has something similar in the works.

Paul Webster ● 3457d

It did - about two boundary commissions ago.I'm more worried about the substance of the change. it looks marginally less daft than the last LibDem defeated proposal - but not much in it.

Sara Nathan ● 3511d

I think it used to be called Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush a while ago. I agree we should campaign to keep Acton or  we will be forgotten.

Chris Hurley ● 3511d

So dear old Acton is sidelined again???No surprise!!!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3512d

I think if enough of us lobbied and put our comments direct via the website linked earlier it might just make a difference. Why not have Easling, Acton and Shepherds Bush...what gives the other two prominence over us?.

Charlie Mawer ● 3512d

Good summary on site front pagehttp://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conboundarychanges001.htm

Paul Webster ● 3513d

Th borough doesn't change - just because the constituency does. Different system.Can't remember new name but its something like Ealing and Shepherds Bush - losing the Acton we have at the moment

Sara Nathan ● 3513d

So what will we be, and in what Borough?

Kim Rugg ● 3514d

The thing that is a real pain is to have a constituency which is in two councils.... so half the issues go to Ealing and the other to Hammersmith & Fulham.It means the MP is always splitting her representative time between two bureaucracies and set of local politicians - which is less effective.Plus Acton's name disappears - sad but I don't suppose and lobbying will change that.

Sara Nathan ● 3514d