The MP for Milton Keynes South has asked for residents to appeal the changes to their constituency
Kingsmead residents have been receiving a letter from their MP recently, advising against the changed plans to constituency borders.
The letter explains that "Every few years, the Boundary Commission redraw the maps to make sure that all Parliamentary seats have approximately the same number of voters."
The Boundary Commission now propose that Kingsmead should be included in the Buckingham constituency rather than South Milton Keynes.
Stewart says "That means you would be an elector in a constituency which stretches all the way from here to Princes Risborough, to the south of Aylesbury! I think this is a ridiculous proposal which would be bad for local democracy and accountability."
Kingsmead is next to farming land that Aylesbury Council are planning to build on. The plans to date have met opposition by residents of Kingsmead. After receiving the letter from Iain Stewart one resident said "It's just odd how that area is the area they want to build and it was Milton Keynes who originally said no to them."
Milton Keynes Council have already lost their battle with Aylesbury council when planning permission was granted on land that meets with Bletchley on the top of the A421. One resident told MKFM their fear was that "Milton Keynes Council did not want another battle on their hands and if Kingsmead was part of Aylesbury council it would make the planning application easier for all concerned" However, the change in constituency boundaries would not change which council these areas operate under and therefore would have no effect.
Peter Marland, leader of the Milton Keynes Council, responded, “The Boundary Commission are a non-political and independent body implementing Conservative Government policy. Alternative proposals have Wolverton and Stony Stratford being placed in Buckinghamshire. Labour’s preference is for MK to have three parliamentary seats. Iain should be straight with all his voters on the reasons why any part of MK needs to be in another constituency at all, but he’d rather play politics, take people for fools and say one thing in Kingsmead and another elsewhere. How did he vote in Parliament on this, I bet people can guess!”
Under the plans that can be seen online Oxley Park, Westcroft and Tattenhoe would also move boundaries.
