Doncaster MP constituencies could change as boundaries are rejigged

The Boundary Commission has published initial proposals which people can view and comment on ahead of the changes coming into force in 2023.

A map shows how some council wards are split between two different constituencies so residents in the same ward may have a different MP.

The constituency of Don Valley would be abolished and be replaced with Doncaster East and Axholme.

This would include Thorne, Moorends, Hatfield, Rossington, Auckley, Bawtry, Finningley, Old Cantley and much of the Isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire such as Crowle and Epworth.

Also in the plans, Doncaster Central would be called Doncaster Town.

Areas would include: Tickhill & Wardworth, the town centre, parts of Bessacarr, Armthorpe, Wheatley, Intake, Edenthorpe and Kirk Sandall.

Doncaster North remains relatively unchanged but gains Barnby Dun, Kirk Bramwith and loses Moorends.

A new constituency of Rawmarsh & Conisbrough would see the Doncaster areas of Denaby Main, Conisbrough, Edlington, Warmsworth join with northern parts of the borough of Rotherham.

Each constituency is required by law to contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors – it’s based on the number of people registered to vote, not how many live in the constituency.

The Boundary Commission says the number of constituencies in England will increase from 533 to 543 and “wide scale change” is inevitable.

Under the proposals, under 10 per cent of the existing constituencies remain unchanged.

Harry Fisher, a Labour council candidate in Doncaster, said there were some ‘strange choices’ but other changes made sense.

“Overall, I think there are some strange choices. Doncaster could have easily still fit into three constituencies all within the borough, and I think people in the two split constituencies will continue to identify with Doncaster.

“I would like to trust that the boundary commission has made an impartial decision, but the map just looks messy for our region.

“The Doncaster East and Axholme constituency makes absolutely no sense to me.

“I lived in Hatfield for a few years and very rarely visited Axholme in that time – it’s such an odd pairing, split across two council areas and two counties, that would in all likelihood be quite a safe seat for the Conservatives despite most of the Doncaster wards in it having voted Labour just last month.

“A lot of us will be particularly sad to see the end of Don Valley, which has existed in some form since 1918 and played a large part in Doncaster’s political history.

“Rawmarsh & Conisbrough actually makes more sense to me than others who have commented.

“The included areas are crucially all in South Yorkshire and all pretty similar if you avoid looking at the council area boundary, although I share the bewilderment at the annexation of Mexborough Railway Station.”

There will be a further two rounds of consultation in 2022. You can view the proposals here https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/node/6491

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