Earlier today the Boundary Commission released proposals for parliamentary constituency boundary changes for England. These are the initial proposals and form the first stage of their 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies. If adopted unchanged, they will have a significant impact for most of Sutton ward, with all parts of the ward moving into a new East Cambridgeshire County constituency.

The 2023 Review of Parliamentary constituencies was formally launched in January this year. The government has asked the Boundary Commission to ensure that the number of electors in each constituency is more equal, and in doing so to increase the number of constituencies in England from 533 to 543. The Commission is undertaking an independent review of all constituency boundaries in England and will present its final recommendations to Parliament by July 2023.

Currently the villages of Sutton, Mepal and Witcham are part of the North East Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency. This constituency stretches north from Sutton ward across Fenland District up to Wisbech and Whittlesey. Wentworth village is however in South East Cambridgeshire constituency, a constituency that takes in Ely and most of East Cambridgeshire district as well as the south east of Cambridgeshire as far as Linton.

The proposals published today would mean all four villages would become part of a new East Cambridgeshire County Constituency including all of the East Cambridgeshire District along with the villages of Cottenham, Landbeach, Waterbeach and Milton which are in South Cambridgeshire District. The image above shows the constituency boundaries: for a more detailed view click on East Cambridgeshire County Constituency.

There is now a period of consultation on these initial proposals which will close on 2 August 2021. Members of the public are encouraged to visit www.bcereviews.org.uk to view maps showing the proposed new boundaries and provide feedback. People can comment on anything from where the proposed new boundary lines are to the names of the constituencies. There will be a further two rounds of consultation in 2022. Following the conclusion of all three consultation periods, the Commission will look at all the evidence received before forming its final recommendations.