Following the publication of the initial proposals from the Boundary Commission on redrawing the map of Parliamentary constituency, Sharon has reacted to the initial proposals:

“The constituency changes, set out in the Boundary Commission’s initial proposals, are unfair, undemocratic and unacceptable. The data used to create the new constituencies is grossly out-of-date, missing off almost 2 million people who fell through the gaps from the Government’s botched job of introducing individual voter registration as well as all of those from the registration drive ahead of the EU Referendum.

“The omission of this crucial data has distorted the whole review and we now see a constitutional process based upon unfairness. The new constituencies that have been created don’t provide people with improved representation, this is seen specifically in Washington and Sunderland, where there are clear issues for future representation.

“It is extremely disappointing to see that Sunderland will now be split between five constituencies and Washington will be split amongst three, after it was rightly unified into one constituency at the last boundary review. It is also concerning to see that one of Sunderland’s biggest employers, Nissan, will not be in a Sunderland constituency. There has always been a strong parliamentary connection between Sunderland and Nissan, a connection set to be undermined by this boundary change.

“Sunderland and Washington both have strong identities within our region and this should be reflected within their representation in Parliament, that is why it is deeply saddening to see it diminished within these initial proposals. I will work alongside my Labour colleagues in Parliament to oppose these plans and make sure that the Tories pause and look again at this process and ensure that our electors and democracy are not undermined.”

For more information about the boundary commission's report and the subsequent consultation, follow this link.