The Reading East and Reading West constituencies will cease to exist under new plans to change election boundaries across the country.
The initial proposals, published by the Boundary Commission for England today, would see the creation of a new Reading constituency, which includes large parts of the Reading Borough Council area.
However, Whitley and other areas in the south would become part of a new Earley and Woodley constituency, while Tilehurst and other areas in the west would become part of a new Mid Berkshire constituency.
Other than these two large areas in the south and west, which include five local council wards – Whitley, Church, Tilehurst, Norcot and Kentwood – the rest of the new constituency would match with the Reading Borough boundary map.
The new proposed Reading constituency
The current Reading East MP is Matt Rodda, while the Reading West MP is Alok Sharma, who is also President for COP26 in the Cabinet Office.
All areas currently part of the Reading East and West constituencies would become part of either the Reading, Earley and Woodley or Mid Berkshire constituencies.
The new Earley and Woodley constituency would include parts of the current Reading East, Reading West and Wokingham constituences, while the new Mid Berkshire constituency would include a part of each of the current Newbury, Wokingham and Reading West constituencies.
Boundary Commission Secretary Tim Bowden said the proposals are “just initial thoughts”.
The commission is undertaking an independent review of all constituency boundaries in England and will present its final recommendations to Parliament by July 2023.
The changes aim to ensure the number of electors in each constituency is more equal.
READ MORE: Matt Rodda retains Reading East seat in emphatic style
READ MORE: Alok Sharma retains Reading West seat at general election
Seats will be redrawn so they have between 69,724 and 77,062 registered voters each.
The number of constituencies across the UK will remain the same, with England gaining ten MPS, Wales losing eight and Scotland losing two.
Seven of the extra seats will be in the south east.
Visit www.bcereviews.org.uk to view maps showing the proposed new boundaries and provide feedback before the eight-week consultation closes on August 2, 2021.
People can comment on anything from where the proposed new boundary lines are to the names of the constituencies.
Mr Bowden added: “We consider all feedback received during the consultation process, and it is your local knowledge that helps us to shape constituencies that best reflect your local area.”
There will be a further two rounds of consultation in 2022. After the three consultation periods, the commission will look at all the evidence before forming its final recommendations.
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