THE Altrincham and Sale West seat would cease to exist under national proposals to re-draw Parliamentary constituency boundaries.

The Boundary Commission's planned shake-up would see the constituency replaced with a new Altrincham and Tatton seat made up of eight Trafford wards plus three Cheshire wards - Knutsford, Mobberley, and High Legh - from the Tatton seat.

The Bucklow St Martin's ward would be moved from the Stretford and Urmston constituency to the new Altrincham seat, while the other seven Trafford wards are Altrincham, Bowdon, Broadheath, Hale Barns, Hale Central, Timperley and Village.
Altrincham and Sale West is currently held by Conservative Graham Brady, while former Chancellor George Osborne is the MP for neighbouring Tatton.

The Stretford and Urmston seat, where Labour's Kate Green is MP, would be less severely affected. However, while losing the Bucklow St Martin's ward, which includes Partington, it would gain the western Sale wards of Ashton upon Mersey and St. Mary’s.

The Wythenshawe and Sale East seat held by Labour's Mike Kane would not be affected by the plans.

Altrincham and Sale West MP Graham Brady said of the proposals: "There will be two further drafts and previous experience suggests that the final recommendation might be very different from the first draft. 
"I will be consulting with constituents and considering what submissions might be appropriate.  

"The principle of equal numbers of voters in each constituency is obviously fair and in the interests of democracy."

But Labour MPs Mr Kane and Ms Green hit out at the blueprint, with both claiming that the work was based on out of date version of the electoral register, with nearly two million voters missing.
Mr Kane said: "The omission of two million voters has distorted the Boundary Review Process, meaning the original aim of equalising the number of voters in each constituency will not be properly met."

The draft proposals will now go out for public consultation. Final plans will then go forward for ratification in October 2018.

The plans are part of reforms which would see the House of Commons reduce from 650 MPs to 600.

For more information - and to provide feedback - visit www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6487.ams