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28
Jun 2023
Boroughbridge to be removed from Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency
The Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency is set to shrink following a national review of parliamentary boundaries.
The Boundary Commission for England today published its final recommendations for new constituency boundaries.
Locally, it means Boroughbridge, Minskip, Marton-cum-Grafton, the Dunsforths, Ripley and Nidd will be removed from the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency currently held by the Conservative Andrew Jones.
Goldsborough, Flaxby, Allerton Park, Hopperton and Burton Leonard will be added to the seat.
The overall size of the constituency electorate will reduce from 78,372 to 75,800.
The current boundaries for the Harrogate and Knaresborough and Selby and Ainsty constituencies.
The government now has four months to bring forward an Order to give effect to the final recommendations, which will then be implemented at the next general election.
There will therefore be no changes before next month's Selby and Ainsty by-election on July 20.
Andrew Jones
Mr Jones, who has represented Harrogate and Knaresborough since 2010, said he was "very sad" to lose "beautiful parts of the constituency" he has represented for 13 years.
He said:
Mr Jones added he welcomed the addition of the new villages to Harrogate and Knaresborough. He said:
Boost for Lib Dems?
Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats are not unhappy at the loss of affluent Boroughbridge, which they think will enhance their prospects of preventing Mr Jones winning a fifth consecutive election.
Tom Gordon
Tom Gordon, the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:
Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission, said:
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The changes, which include retaining a total of 650 constituencies across the UK, see each seat contain no less than 69,724 voters and no more than 77,062.
England has been allocated 543 constituencies — 10 more than it currently has.
The commission began its review in January 2021. It issued initial proposals in June 2021 and revised proposals in November last year.
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