Boundary Commission proposes Bermondsey & South Bank constituency

The commission has published its revised proposals and launched a public consultation even though the plans are highly unlikely to be implemented.

In August Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg made clear that his party would not support boundary review legislation if the Conservatives did not back House of Lords reform.

In its revised proposals the commission has rejected criticism from local residents of the plan to include Lambeth Council's Bishop's ward (Waterloo) in a constituency otherwise made up of Southwark wards.

"A number of representations from individuals and community organisations objected to separating Bishop's ward from other Lambeth wards, including Waterloo Action Centre, South Bank Employers' Group, Iain Tuckett on behalf of Coin Street Community Builders and a petition of 26 residents," said the commission in its report.

"The Liberal Democrats were sympathetic to this concern, but concluded that there was no better alternative. We agree with this view.

"Balancing the statutory factors across several constituencies, we have found it is not possible to avoid linking Bishop's ward with Southwark wards without significant consequences for much of South London.

"We also found that this particular orphan ward is part of a cohesive community with the neighbouring Cathedrals ward across the borough boundary.

"We recommend a Bermondsey and South Bank constituency, comprising Bishop's ward from Lambeth and eight wards from Southwark (Camberwell Green, Cathedrals, Chaucer, East Walworth, Faraday, Grange, Newington, and Riverside). The recommendation reflects a proposal from Adam Gray. It varies by two wards from the commission's initial proposal, in order to accommodate changes made elsewhere in Southwark.

"Adam Gray proposed the name Bermondsey, but we agree with the Liberal Democrats that including a reference to the South Bank would better reflect the geographical reach of the constituency and would best describe the area spanning the borough boundary."

Under the latest proposals South Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks wards would form part of a new Deptford and Rotherhithe constituency spanning the Southwark – Lewisham border.