The Boundary Review Committee has expressed its thanks to all those who took part in the recent public consultation on its draft plan for 12 two-seat constituencies for the House of Keys.
The consultation, which ran from January 9 until February 20, attracted 68 written submissions. The Committee also had meetings with 16 Tynwald Members and representatives of five local authorities.
Chairman Sally Bolton commented: ‘On behalf of the Boundary Review Committee I would like to thank all the members of the public who took the trouble to respond to the consultation, as well as the Tynwald Members and local authority representatives who came to meet us.
‘It was a very useful exercise, providing valuable local insight which will be taken account as we prepare our final report to Tynwald.’
At present the Island has two three-seat constituencies (Rushen and Onchan), five two-seaters (the four Douglas constituencies and Ramsey), and eight one-seaters (Ayre, Castletown, Garff, Glenfaba, Michael, Peel, Malew and Santon, and Middle). This means that some individuals have three votes each in general elections, some have two and some have only one – depending on where they live.
There is also a considerable variation in the numbers of voters per MHK, from 49% above the average in Middle to 26% below the average in Glenfaba (based on 2010/11 figures).
Tynwald has agreed that there should be equality of representation, that the 24 Keys seats should be divided into twelve constituencies with two Members each, and that the population size of constituencies should not vary from the average by more than 15%.
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