A Reading MP has raised concerns about proposed changes to constituencies in the area.
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 yesterday, would see the creation of a new Reading constituency, which includes large parts of the Reading Borough Council area.
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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.
Reading East MP Matt Rodda said: “I am going to be consulting with people about it, but I have serious reservations about parts of Reading not being represented in a seat called Reading.
“I have got concerns about places in Reading, in Church ward for example, which would no longer be in a Reading constituency and it just seems like a lot of change as well.
“There are a lot of places in the Reading West constituency as well which wouldn’t be in a seat called Reading which seems rather strange.”
Other than the two large areas in Reading 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 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”.
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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.
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