Future boundary changes
On 16th April, George Howarth was selected as the Labour candidate for the new Knowsley Borough constituency in a ballot of Labour Party members in Knowsley.
Commenting on the result, George Howarth expressed sadness that, because of boundary changes introduced by the Boundary Commission, the number of constituencies in Knowsley has reduced from two seats to one with some parts of the borough being incorporated by St Helens South or Garston. Mr Howarth said:
“I am delighted to have been selected by Labour Party members as the candidate for the new seat, and I emphasise that if I am elected for the new constituency I would represent all the people of Knowsley North and South to the best of my ability.
“It is very distressing that the number of MPs has been reduced and many people feel that Knowsley has been treated unfairly by the Boundary Commission. It is particularly sad because it will eventually that Eddie O’Hara will no longer be able to continue to make a valuable contribution to the area as an MP.
"Eddie is still the MP for Knowsley South and will remain so until the next general election is called, which could be as far away as 2010. I am sure Eddie will continue to provide a high standard of service as he has always done.”
The Chair of the Labour Party in Knowsley, Cllr Jackie Harris, said:
“We are very pleased that George is going to be our candidate at the next general election and we know he will make a first class MP for the new Knowsley constituency. The Labour Party is confident that George will provide a good service to constituents throughout the constituency.
“We are of course sad that because of the boundary changes we will now have only one seat wholly in Knowsley and that one of our existing two MPs, Eddie O’Hara, who is held in high regard, has lost out in this process.”
The Boundary Commission has made recommendations to reduce the number of constituencies in Knowsley from two seats to one with some parts of the borough being incorporated by St Helens South or Garston. Once these proposals are approved by Parliament, there will be a new Knowsley Borough seat which will comprise Huyton, Kirkby, Knowsley Village, Stockbridge Village and the western part of Prescot. Of the remainder of the Borough, the Eastern part of Prescot and all of Whiston will be included in St. Helens South and Halewood and Cronton will be included in Garston.
These new boundaries apply only to parliamentary constituencies and do not change existing local government boundaries.
