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Simon Hughes MPRepresenting Southwark and Bermondsey since 1983 |
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Simon Hughes celebrates at commons vote to keep Bermondsey and Old Southwark together
January 30, 2013 10:14 PM
Simon Hughes last night was one of the MPs who voted to put back parliamentary boundary changes for five years - which means that his Bermondsey and Old Southwark seat, like all other parliamentary seats will keep the same boundaries for the next election.
Up until yesterday the independent boundary commissions for the UK had been working on the basis of reducing the number of seats from 650 to 600 by the next election. Their latest plans for London proposed carving up Bermondsey into a seat liked with Deptford in Lewisham and another going from parts of Lambeth to Camberwell Green.
There was strong local opposition by Simon and many residents to these plans.
Whatever the final proposals the boundary Commission now come up with they will certainly not be implemented before 2015 and could well be changed further after the next election.
Welcoming the parliamentary vote Simon Hughes said,
"Boundary changes did not go ahead because the Conservatives did not honor their commitment to reform the House of Lords.
"The great benefit to the people of Southwark is that there will not be changes which breakup historic communities into different political areas.
"Bermondsey has valued its independence for centuries and it would have been very wrong of the Boundary Commission to have split our community down the middle.
"I am really grateful to all those who stood up for our community. Bermondsey lives on not just on the ground but also in Parliament."