Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, has welcomed the Boundary Commissioner’s revised proposals which re-draw possible constituency boundaries for the General Election in 2015.

The Boundary Commission has been asked by Parliament to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and to ensure that all constituencies are approximately equal in size.

The initial proposals were published for public consultation and created an enlarged Hemel Hempstead constituency which would include villages in south Bedfordshire such as Caddington and Kensworth, but lose Potten End and Little Gaddesden.

Following representations from local people, they have now revised the proposals to retain Potten End and Little Gaddesden but add Bedmond and Primrose Hill instead of parts of Bedfordshire.

After a further period of consultation, these will be put to a vote in Parliament next year.

Mike Penning said:
“I support the proposals to reduce the number of MPs and I also support the principle that everyone’s vote should carry an equal weight and all constituencies should be about the same size.

“I am pleased that the latest proposals will keep Potten End and Little Gaddesden in the constituency. It makes much more geographic sense to extend the constituency south to Bedmond and Primrose Hill – areas which already have close ties with Kings Langley.

“I thank local people who took the trouble to participate in the review and I think that this set of proposals makes much more sense.”

There is a now a further consultation which ends on 10th December 2012.