Question for the Brits...

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2003-11-07 11:48am

How is it determined to add a new seat (or re-distribute seats) to the House of Commons? I'm asking since I'm on the by-laws committee in a college Parliamentary system, and our Constitution and By-Laws are mutually contradictory on the issue. I tried looking on the Commons' webpage, but I can't find that particular information.

BenRG · Post by **BenRG** » 2003-11-09 05:39pm

I'm not sure of the exact details. However an inquiry is usually needed from an official government agency called 'The Boundary Commission'. They have the remit to decide what areas are represented by what parliamentary seat. They also decide whether seats are amalgamated or split up.

The Commission is theoretically a-political, but most people suspect that it is used to remove popular enemies of the Powers That Be by amalgamating their seat with someone equally popular but more accomodating. Like all British quangos, it is non-democratic and no one actually living in the area actually has any say on the Commission's conclusions.