Two North East MPs whose constituencies are set to be abolished have hit out at the “ruthless” plans.
Final proposals published by the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) will see the number of Parliamentary constituencies across the region slashed from 29 to 27, as the country’s political map is redrawn. It means that North Tyneside’s Labour MP Mary Glindon and the Tory MP for North West Durham, Richard Holden, will see their seats scrapped, while others are being heavily redrawn and renamed.
Mrs Glindon, who has been an MP since 2010, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she was “really angry” with the move and that the BCE gave “no regard to communities”. The 66-year-old, who indicated that she would like to stand in a new seat, said: “I am absolutely gutted. I couldn’t be any more gutted because I love my constituency and I know my constituency. It feels like a death, it is really sad.
Read More: Sweeping changes to North East's political map confirmed by Boundary Commission
“We have fought the Boundary Commission before and won, but this time they are being absolutely ruthless. In the North East generally there are a lot of people who are unhappy about the decisions being made. I do want to stand again because I have a lot of things I still want to do as an MP. But I am heartbroken that I won’t be able to represent all of the people I have represented for the last 13 years.”
The wards in her seat are to be split between Tynemouth, Newcastle North, and two new constituencies known as Newcastle East and Wallsend, and Cramlington and Killingworth.
North West Durham is being broken up too, with its wards split between surrounding seats. Mr Holden, the roads minister, said he was “deeply disappointed - and frankly devastated” to be displaced but vowed to serve constituents with “full vigour” until the next general election.
He added: “Having made North West Durham my home, I have campaigned relentlessly for the towns and villages in it that I have the honour to represent. With the help of hard-working local councillors and grassroots campaigners, so much has been achieved:
“We have secured the new community hospital to replace Shotley Bridge, record investment in our local schools, tens of thousands from Northern Powergrid for community hubs, 239 more Police in Durham than 2019, the biggest settlement in the country for North East buses, as well as record jobs growth, falls in unemployment and in the benefits claimant count.
“I am completely gutted not to be able to fight the General Election on this strong track record. I hope future MPs in the new seats build on this great work and continue to deliver for every part of our area.”
Other changes in the BCE’s final report, which will now go before Parliament, include Tony Blair’s former Sedgefield seat being substantially redrawn and turned into a Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor constituency.
The Hexham constituency is set to expand, gaining the Newcastle villages of Callerton and Throckley as well as Newcastle International Airport. Its MP, the Conservative Guy Opperman, said he supported the changes and “look forward to delivering for people” in his new wards, which will also include Longhorsley and Ponteland North.
Ian Levy’s Blyth Valley seat will be divided up between the aforementioned Cramlington and Killingworth as well as a new Blyth and Ashington seat, which also incorporates the majority of Ian Lavery’s current Wansbeck constituency.
A number of the changes will mean Parliamentary constituencies crossing local council boundaries. A part of Newcastle’s Castle ward, for example, will join Cramlington and Killingworth.
Local Lib Dem councillor Thom Campion said residents in the city “will struggle to see how an MP based in Cramlington or Killingworth will ever do anything for them”.
