Please note that the boundary changes have now taken place following the 2024 General Election on 4th July, the proposed boundaries detailed below are now the current constituencies.
Many people often ask and wonder what do the boundary changes mean to them. Below I have put together a few frequently asked questions and information which help explain what's happening at the next general election.
On the 28th June 2023, the Independent Boundary Commission for England published its final recommendations following a review into the Parliamentary Constituencies. This report was laid before Parliament who accepted it in full. This means that the Chippenham Constituency is changing at the next general election. It will now include Chippenham, Corsham, Calne, Lyneham, Royal Wootton Bassett, and their surrounding villages. (Find out if you live in the new Chippenham Constituency on the Boundary Commissions website here or on my homepage). The new constituency retains the name of the previous constituency, with the majority of the population living within the town of Chippenham.
Why have the boundaries been changed?
As it currently stands, our local constituencies are uneven in their size. This means that you vote could carry a different weight in different constituencies and the independent Boundary Commission for England recognises that this is could be unfair. To fix this, the boundaries have been redrawn so that each constituency ends up with around 70,000 - 77,000 people living there (with some exceptions in areas like the Scottish Islands and the Isle of Wight).
What is happening to the current Chippenham Constituency?
The current Chippenham Constituency, is being split into 2, with the New Chippenham Constituency keeping Chippenham & Corsham and is gaining four Calne council wards, Royal Wootton Bassett council wards, plus Lyneham, which I am your candidate for.
How did the new boundaries get decided?
This is an independent process, and although Members of Parliament were consulted, they did not make the decision. The consultation was also open to the public to allow them to comment on any part of the process, from the constituency name to the areas that it included. The final decisions were made by the Boundary Commission and accepted by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
When do the boundaries change?
The boundaries will change at midnight on Thursday 30th May, when Parliament dissolves and there are no sitting Members of Parliament, with the election taking place on the 4th July.
Below is the boundary commission map of the new Chippenham Constituency, you can find out if you live in the new constituency using the postcode checker on my homepage.