News

Richmond Park and North Kingston MP Zac Goldsmith risks losing parliamentary seat

Summary:

Proposals from the government will see 456 of the current 533 constituencies affected.

Image:

By Amaris Cole

Richmond Park and North Kingston’s MP, Zac Goldsmith, risks losing his parliamentary seat to Vince Cable if latest government plans are implemented.

The proposals from the government will see 456 of the current 533 constituencies affected.

The Boundary Commission for England are currently holding a consultation regarding reducing the current 533 MPs in Parliament to 502.

The aim of this would be to distribute the electorate more equally, balancing the amount of constituents each MP represents. The boundaries are revaluated every ten years, but this would be the biggest shake up since the 1980s.

The proposals would see every constituency arranged to have only a ten per cent margin for difference in constituents, based on the UK electoral quota of 76,641.

The number of MPs will therefore be reduced; this will see the smallest House of Commons since 1801. Predictions claim this will affect Labour and the Liberal Democrats the most.

Richmond Park and North Kingston is one of the constituencies to be so affected, which threatens Mr Goldsmith’s seat as it changes to Richmond and Twickenham. If he decides to fight, Vince Cable, who is leading the backlash to the new plans, could cause serious Labour opposition to the current Conservative MP.

The 2013 Boundary Commission for England has opened the consultation until 5 December 2011. 

 

Related Articles