Constituencies are reviewed periodically by independent Boundary Commissions, one for each part of the UK. This briefing outlines how the public can get involved in the consultation stages.
Parliamentary boundary reviews: public consultations (710 KB , PDF)
UK Parliamentary constituency boundaries are reviewed periodically to take account of population changes. Reviews are carried out by four Boundary Commissions, one for each part of the UK.
The Commissions must follow certain rules but they also rely on public feedback to help create seats that have local support and take account of local community ties where possible. This briefing explains the public consultation process used during reviews.
The current review was formally launched on 5 January 2021 and must be completed by 1 July 2023. There are several stages of public consultation. The timings are a matter for each Commission but there are some statutory provisions that they must follow. They are set out in set out in the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as amended.
The Boundary Commission for England announced its initial proposals on 8 June 2021.
The Boundary Commission for Wales announced its initial proposals on 18 August 2021.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland announced its initial proposals on 14 October 2021.
The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland announced initial proposals on 20 October 2021.
For the 2023 Review the following consultation periods will be held:
The initial consultation period
Publishing initial proposals triggers an eight-week consultation. This stage allows people to make written representations. The initial consultations for all four Commissions have now closed.
Each Commission must publish all submissions received at some point after the end of the eight weeks. Publishing these triggers the secondary consultation.
The secondary consultation period
This lasts six weeks. Representations can include comments on submissions from the initial consultation.
The secondary period includes public hearings, which each region must hold. There must be at least two and no more than five per region, lasting up to two days.
These will be held in 2022.
The Boundary Commission for Wales has announced its secondary consultation, which will run from 17 February and 30 March 2022. It had originally been due to run from 11 January to 21 February but has been delayed over the ongoing concerns about the Omicron variant of coronavirus. Five public hearings will be held across Wales.
The Boundary Commission for Scotland secondary consultation (PDF) will run from 10 February to 23 March 2022.
The Boundary Commission for England secondary consultation will run from 22 February 2022 to 4 April 2022 and will include 32 public hearings across the country.
The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland will announce its secondary consultation in due course.
After the secondary consultation period, each Commission must publish any written submissions and transcripts of the public hearings.
The third consultation period
If a Commission decides to publish revised proposals because of the first two consultation periods, this triggers a third consultation.
This lasts four weeks and there are no public hearings.
Anyone can make a submission. This includes MPs but they must make submissions the same way as everyone else.
A Commission will give equal consideration to each submission regardless of how it is submitted. This could be a presentation at a public hearing or a written submission. Written submissions can be electronic or hard copy but people are encouraged to respond via the review websites each Commission provides.
The Commissions encourage people to say whether they agree or disagree with proposals. If someone disagrees, they are encouraged to suggest alternative proposals.
The Commissions will publish more details on their websites:
Boundary Commission for England
Boundary Commission for Scotland
Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland
There is more information on the background to boundary reviews and the number of Members of Parliament in the Library briefing Constituency boundary reviews and the number of MPs (SN05929).
Parliamentary boundary reviews: public consultations (710 KB , PDF)
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