MP Farris tries to amend proposed changes to her constituency boundary

Newbury MP Laura Farris has launched a bid to keep a chunk of her current seat safe from a re-drawing of the political map.

Parliamentary seats are to be carved up with the soon-to-be-announced Boundary Commission review.

It means people in West Berkshire could find themselves voting in a new constituency if proposals are approved – either Newbury or the new constituency of Mid Berkshire.

Mrs Farris wants to amend the tabled proposals which she says could see the Lambourn racing industry spliced in two.

In her submission to the Boundary Commission, Mrs Farris says: “We are proposing a new split of the Ridgeway ward which will occur just to the east of the A34.

“The principal section of the Berkshire Downs that runs to its west is home to the West Berkshire racing industry – which is primarily located in Lambourn with a number of stables dotted across the Berkshire Downs up to East and West Ilsley.

“The split that we are proposing maintains the overall integrity of the racing industry across the Berkshire Downs, including all the areas of Gallops from Lambourn to West Ilsley. ”

Racing is one of West Berkshire’s largest employers (more than 1,000 people) and generates £23m annually for the local economy.

“The racehorses all train on various stretches of ‘Gallops’ between Lambourn and East Ilsley because of the altitude and undulations of the Downs,” said Mrs Farris. “The racing industry is integrally connected to Newbury Racecourse and has always been part of the Newbury constituency.

“On the split the Boundary Commission is currently proposing, a small number of racehorse trainers (approximately 15 per cent) would become separated and form part of Mid Berkshire, whilst around 85 per cent of the others would remain within the Newbury CC [county constituency].

“We respectfully think it is artificial to put a segment of the industry into the Mid Berkshire seat where the vast majority of constituents will live in Reading.”

The Boundary Commission for England has proposed the changes to ensure that the number of electors in each constituency is more equal.

The Newbury seat is to be carved up and villages east of Thatcham will have a new MP under the proposals.

The new Newbury constituency will extend from Upper Lambourn to Thatcham and from Fawley and Farnborough to Coombe, covering Hungerford, Inkpen, Chieveley, Cold Ash and the downlands villages.

People in Aldermaston, Aldworth, Ashampstead, Beedon, Bradfield, Brimpton, Bucklebury, Compton, East and West Ilsley, Frilsham, Hampstead Norreys, Lower and Upper Basildon, Midgham, Woolhampton and Yattendon could find themselves voting for the MP for Mid Berkshire if the proposals go ahead.

Calcot, Pangbourne, Purley-on-Thames, Sulham, Theale, Tidmarsh and Tilehurst – currently in Reading West – will also fall under Mid Berkshire, along with Beenham, Burghfield, Padworth, and Mortimer, which are currently in Wokingham constituency.

The number of constituencies in England will increase from 533 to 543 under the proposals, and constituencies must have no less than 69,724 Parliamentary electors and no more than 77,062.

There were 83,414 registered voters in Newbury Constituency for the 2019 General Election. Under the new proposals Newbury will have 71,631 electors and Mid Berkshire 69,999.

Newbury MP Laura Farris, who won the seat in 2019 with 34,431 votes and a majority of 16,047, last year welcomed the proposals.

“I couldn’t argue with the logic of equalising them in the manner that was proposed,” she said. “I definitely think the principle of fair representation is a really vital one. I think it’s welcome, it’s democratic and I think it’s as fair as it can be.”

If adopted, the Boundary Commission changes will come into effect in 2023 – ahead of any scheduled general election.