The National-level Lib Dem party propose a radical departure for the future two-MP Isle of Wight.
Given we’re unable to analyse the public’s written responses, we’re pleased that we can give you _something_ to get your teeth into.
Public hearings
Back in October, public hearings were held about the proposed boundary changes. At the Reading event, the national representatives of the three major political parties all agreed that an exception should be made for the Isle of Wight and it have two MPs each with smaller number of voters.
No great shock there, but studying the minutes of proceedings revealed to us a number of items that had, until now, not been widely-known.
Lib Dem proposal
The most radical suggestion was from the Lib Dems who proposed that the Island should be split East-West, not North-South.
The reasons they gave were …
- No artificial division of the Ryde and Newport town areas
- Better police authority match
- Newport not split from its natural hinterland
- Medina Valley area not split
- Main tourist areas are altogether in the eastern constituency
Full text
The full text of what Mr Goldenberg, representing Liberal Democrats, said is below …
Let me first of all take the Isle of Wight. It obviously has to be split into two and that’s what the law says. In fact that was the only practical solution. Rather pretty colours these.
We think an east-west split is better than north-south. And we say that for a number of reasons. First of all, there’s no artificial division of the Ryde and Newport town areas. Secondly, there’s a better police authority match. Thirdly, it does not split Newport from its natural hinterland. Fourthly, it does not split the Medina Valley area. Finally, the main tourist areas are altogether in the eastern constituency.
Now you either do it north-south, or you do it east-west. We think actually that is a better proposal and we would commend it to you.
