Redrawing of parliamentary boundaries is not the issue

It is both fair and proper, in democratic terms, to update boundaries to represent a changing population

The likelihood of a Tory rebellion over the issue, which is prompting a rethink on the cuts, demonstrates the breadth of concern about its effects. (Getty)

There are many reasons to worry about the Conservative Party’s apparent attempts to take control of the parliamentary process. A proposed cut to Short money, funding provided to the opposition party to cover its costs and operate effectively, is one. It would mean that the Tories – the better-funded party – could hobble an already-weakened Labour Party by enforcing a financial inequality between Government and Opposition.

The likelihood of a Tory rebellion over the issue, which is prompting a rethink on the cuts, demonstrates the breadth of concern about its effects. Whatever its merits in terms of liberalism, the forcing through of changes to trade-union rules – meaning members must “opt in” to rather than “opt out” of paying a levy to Labour – is another, given the chilling effect it will have on funding for the Opposition.

Yet the matter that is drawing criticism for the Conservative Party this week, that of changes to constituency boundaries, seems the least deserving of attention. It is both fair and proper, in democratic terms, to update boundaries to represent a changing population.

A review is long overdue. It is also right to consider reducing the number of MPs as it cuts costs. Labour worries it will be penalised by fewer constituencies, but many Tory MPs may also find themselves chopped out.

Graham Allen, the former chair of the defunct Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, said the Tory Government is “trying to fix the electoral system for its own party advantage”. And he’s right that, due to individual voter registration, the boundaries are being redrawn with almost a million voters missing from the electoral register. But given that new registration system is designed to engage voters, there can be no basis for Mr Allen’s claim. There are reasons to worry about a Conservative stranglehold, but it’s for more complicated reasons than the creation of a constituency map designed to represent modern Britain.