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Many constituents may be aware that the Boundary Commission for Scotland recently published its proposals for new Westminstter Parliamentary seats. This was following the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill last year which meant that the number of MPs has to be reduced to 600, along with new rules for the redistribution of seats so that they are of equal number of voters per constituency (approx. 76,000 electors + or - 5%). The commission's proposals were announced


on October 13. Edinburgh has been reduced from five seats to four with a maximum number of voters at 80,000. Edinburgh South has not disappeared but has been split approximately 60% in to the new "Edinburgh East" and 40% in to the new "Edinburgh South West". The over 18 population of Edinburgh is approximately 400,000 which would mean five seats, but unfortunately, the Government have used the electoral register rather than population to draw the new constituencies.


The new proposals are as follows:


"Edinburgh East" "Edinburgh South West" "Edinburgh West" "Edinburgh Central and Leith"


There is now an initial consultation period


for 12 weeks until January 2012. Within this period, there will be a Public Hearing at the City Chambers. If you have any comments or feedback, you can submit them via the details below:


Email: comments@scottishboundaries.gov.uk Write: Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD


You can get further information on the proposals, including detailed maps from the commission's website http://www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk


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