Lewes MP attacks proposed boundary changes (From The Argus)
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Lewes MP attacks proposed boundary changes
12:00pm Friday 4th November 2011 in News By Tom Moseley, Parliamentary Correspondent
Lewes MP Norman Baker has launched a furious attack on the boundary changes that threaten his Parliamentary career.
The Transport Minister said the proposals were an "affront" to Lewes, threatened its economic prosperity and showed "no respect for history".
Under the recommendations, the Liberal Democrat's seat will be carved up between two new constituencies - Lewes and Brighton East, and Uckfield.
The measures are currently out to consultation, and Mr Baker told a hearing in Crawley he was "gravely concerned" about the proposals' impact on Sussex.
He criticised the Boundary Commission's proposal to connect Lewes with parts of Brighton for the first time, saying this would "place the county town at the far eastern edge of that constituency, as if it were a mere adjunct to Brighton."
The changes have come about because of the coalition government's decision to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 and create equal-sized constituencies.
Mr Baker's current seat includes the towns of Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford and Polegate, which are of roughly comparable size.
He said: "Now Lewes, if this plan goes ahead, is to be swamped by the eastern suburbs of Brighton. Lewes has nothing in common with Moulsecoomb or Whitehawk, or even with Rottingdean."
He also said Lewes relied on its status for economic prosperity and employment, pointing out that the town is home to Sussex Police, councils and health bodies.
And he said residents of surrounding rural villages, like Plumpton, were worried by the prospect of becoming part of more urban constituencies.
The Lib Dems put forward alternative proposals, which they said would meet the target numbers and avoid splitting up electoral wards.
Should the number of MPs be reduced? Tell us what you think by commenting below or write to our letters page.
Comments(24)
Number Six
says...
12:59pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Brighton_Boy2011
says...
1:40pm Fri 4 Nov 11
GreggWallace
says...
1:45pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Me doth think he's worried about Rottingdean's Tory voters and the Labour votes in Moulsecoomb...
albionite
says...
1:47pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Number Six wrote:100% spot on.
Seems appropriate really. After all, Lewes thought they were part of Brighton when they didn't want the football stadium
Busterblister
says...
2:05pm Fri 4 Nov 11
albionite wrote:Except of course the stadium has been partly built in the Lewes DC area and so they were perfectly entitled to oppose it. And should have won if the SOS applied the planning laws of the day.
Number Six wrote:100% spot on.
Seems appropriate really. After all, Lewes thought they were part of Brighton when they didn't want the football stadium
But of course the Albion's customers never let the facts get in the way of their arguments.
Nick Brighton
says...
2:25pm Fri 4 Nov 11
albionite wrote:Yes, but you have to remember, the stadium is on the boundary of the two local authorities, and some of the land the stadium roads is on is part of Lewes District Council area. OK, so I'm being picky.
Number Six wrote:100% spot on.
Seems appropriate really. After all, Lewes thought they were part of Brighton when they didn't want the football stadium
On the point of the boundary changes, it'll make life very difficult for MPs whoever they are, as their constituency may now overlap more than one local authority, making liaison that much more difficult.
ShorehamBeachcomber
says...
2:28pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Busterblister wrote:And that's Bakers problem 50,000 odd different visitors to a Stadium that is better looking than anything Lewes has managed to throw up over centuries will NOT forget his banal opposition & he'll be out on his heels with VAT Vince & and rest of the yellow bellies
albionite wrote:Except of course the stadium has been partly built in the Lewes DC area and so they were perfectly entitled to oppose it. And should have won if the SOS applied the planning laws of the day.
Number Six wrote:100% spot on.
Seems appropriate really. After all, Lewes thought they were part of Brighton when they didn't want the football stadium
But of course the Albion's customers never let the facts get in the way of their arguments.
Number Six
says...
2:44pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Busterblister wrote:I haven't been an Albion customer for thirty years. If I remember correctly, wasn't it a small part of the car park that was in LDC area. I just think that no one in Lewes minded being next door to Moulsecoomb then, so why now.
albionite wrote:Except of course the stadium has been partly built in the Lewes DC area and so they were perfectly entitled to oppose it. And should have won if the SOS applied the planning laws of the day. But of course the Albion's customers never let the facts get in the way of their arguments.Number Six wrote: Seems appropriate really. After all, Lewes thought they were part of Brighton when they didn't want the football stadium100% spot on.
Be assured, I have no axe to grind. Have you?
Audrey Bennett
says...
3:17pm Fri 4 Nov 11
All constituencies experience a variety of areas of wealth so that is a feeble reason to not go ahead with this change and very elitist!
How very pompous of him to suggest we have nothing in common with areas of Brighton, most of my family live in Brighton and Hove, me and most of my friends also work there!
I think only good things can come of combining these two great places.
andybenson_23
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3:18pm Fri 4 Nov 11
BrightonBoy83
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3:20pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Seagull Sally1
says...
3:43pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Up the Seagulls!
Dion57
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3:52pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Andy's Fishy Thoughts
says...
4:12pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Rather than throwing his toys out of the pram and moaning about falling off the gravy train, Norman would be better off doing the job he is paid for - representing his constituents.
observer18
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4:29pm Fri 4 Nov 11
george smith
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4:59pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
7:12pm Fri 4 Nov 11
Kirby??? Who?? Baker makes a press statement once a day.
He invented Twitter by post.
JKW
says...
5:49am Sat 5 Nov 11
If you're good at your job as an MP Norman you should be confident that your constituents will come out and vote for you, i strongly suspect Mr Baker has taken his foot of the peddle of late and not been seen locally which appears to be the case, that along side the fall in the Fib Dem vote and the probability he'll have to fight a new hard working MP such as Simon Kirby he knows it's time to pack up and schmooze the New years Honours team!
JKW
says...
5:52am Sat 5 Nov 11
Andy's Fishy Thoughts wrote:Here..Here!
What Norman really means is that he doesn't like the Boundary proposals because he won't be able to beat Simon Kirby, an excellent, hard-working local MP (and a Seagulls supporter!) Rather than throwing his toys out of the pram and moaning about falling off the gravy train, Norman would be better off doing the job he is paid for - representing his constituents.
Andy's Fishy Thoughts
says...
8:21am Sat 5 Nov 11
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:Ghost:
I am not a fan of Baker, but to say Kirby works harder made me laugh.
Kirby??? Who?? Baker makes a press statement once a day.
He invented Twitter by post.
News stories on websites
Normanbaker.org OCT (7), SEPT (4), AUG (4)
Simonkirby.org OCT (33), SEPT (22), AUG (34)
asbojim
says...
2:53pm Sat 5 Nov 11
so lets hear it for Norman {i dont give a t_ss about anyone else} Baker.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
9:10am Sun 6 Nov 11
He's very busy. Like Weatherley and his visit to the commons with Alice Cooper.
Tory plonkers.
Brighton_Boy2011
says...
12:58pm Mon 7 Nov 11
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:Clearly Maxwell's Ghost doesn't live in the area, Simon Kirby seems to be everywhere, just take a look at his website.
I am not a fan of Baker, but to say Kirby works harder made me laugh. Kirby??? Who?? Baker makes a press statement once a day. He invented Twitter by post.
- speaking up for Saltdean Lido campaign
- fighting to retain facilities in Peacehaven
- winning money back for residents of Telscombe Cliffs from Southern Water
Meanwhile Norman is devoting his time to desperately scrabbling to save his own political skin and protect his very healthy salary
monkeymoo says...
12:37pm Fri 4 Nov 11
He said he would oppose student fees...yet he then voted for them.....
He said he wanted honesty and transparency in MP's expenses.....yet he was claiming them underhandedly himself.....
Seems to me like he is a typical politician. Just says want the public want to hear to vote him in, then does whatever he wants to.