We’ve Got It Covered

(Date of issue: Friday, 29 January 2010)

Voters in Carlisle should be aware that one ward in the City will become part of a different Parliamentary constituency as from this year’s general election, as a result of nationwide boundary changes.

Following a statutory review of all parliamentary constituencies in England undertaken by the Boundary Commission for England and completed in 2007, changes to constituency boundaries recommended by the Commission will come into force at the next general election. Carlisle constituency currently comprises the 12 urban wards of the City, together with Burgh and Dalston wards. At the next general election, the constituency will be enlarged to include the Wetheral ward, which will transfer from the Penrith and the Border constituency.

The aim of boundary review is to ensure that, as far as practicable, each constituency has a similar number of electors, using wards as the building blocks for constituencies. At present, Carlisle constituency has 61,800 electors; the new constituency will have 65,200.

Carlisle City Council’s Chief Executive and Returning Officer, Maggie Mooney, said:

“This boundary change only makes a difference to who the residents of Wetheral ward can vote for in the parliamentary general election to represent them as an MP. The ward will still be part of Carlisle City and local services will still be provided by the City Council”.

For more information or to register for elections, please contact the Council’s Electoral Services team on 01228 817555 or visit the Council's Democracy and Elections