header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
18 June 2021 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7937 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Constitutional law , Public
printer mail-detail

Elections: Rebalancing the map

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
51267
Making every vote count the same: Alec Samuels reports on long-overdue updates to parliamentary constituencies
  • Key changes enacted under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020, which will see constituencies redefined to equalise the number of electors in each.

The law and practice of parliamentary constituencies has been reformed. This reform is long overdue. Too many elections in the 21st century have been fought on the basis of a substantial number of constituencies having had markedly more or markedly fewer electors than the norm, so that the number of voters required to win one seat is markedly different from another—giving, as it happened, a considerable advantage to Labour and the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Scotland. Psephologists estimate that under the current boundaries the Conservatives need at least a three-point opinion poll lead in order to win overall; and the current boundaries give Labour a ten-seat advantage.

Number of MPs

Initial proposals, confirmed earlier this month, will see the number of constituencies and MPs remaining at 650. Some people have argued

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

Daniel Burbeary, office managing partner of Michelman Robinson, discusses launching in London, the power of the law, and what the kitchen can teach us about litigating

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

West End firm strengthens employment and immigration team with partner hire

JMW—Belinda Brooke

JMW—Belinda Brooke

Employment and people solutions offering boosted by partner hire

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: Appeal court reins in ‘wrong defendant’ switcheroo

The Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on claimants trying to swap defendants after limitation has expired. In Adcamp LLP v Office Properties and BDB Pitmans v Lee [2026] EWCA Civ 50, it overturned High Court rulings that had allowed substitutions under s 35(6)(b) of the Limitation Act 1980, reports Sarah Crowther of DAC Beachcroft in this week's NLJ

NLJ this week: Driving test fraudsters steer towards jail
Cheating in driving tests is surging—and courts are responding firmly. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth of De Montfort Law School charts a rise in impersonation and tech-assisted fraud, with 2,844 attempts recorded in a year
NLJ this week: Deepfakes demand data law muscle
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
NLJ this week: 40% penalty for coercive control
In a striking financial remedies ruling, the High Court cut a wife’s award by 40% for coercive and controlling behaviour. Writing in NLJ this week, Chris Bryden and Nicole Wallace of 4 King’s Bench Walk analyse LP v MP [2025] EWFC 473
NLJ this week: Mbappé row spotlights ‘ethics bonuses’
A €60.9m award to Kylian Mbappé has refocused attention on football’s controversial ‘ethics bonus’ clauses. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Estelle Ivanova of Valloni Attorneys at Law examines how such provisions sit within French labour law
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll