Tories gain in capital boundary changes

The Tories are set to entrench their election gains in London as part of changes to parliamentary seats across the country.

A new Conservative-held constituency in Hammersmith and North Kensington is expected to be created and the Tory-Labour marginal of Hornchurch may merge with Upminster to create a rock-solid Conservative seat.

Hornchurch was lost by Labour to the Tories on 5 May, along with two other seats in the east and northwest of the capital.

The changes will be made as the political map of Britain is redrawn by the Boundary Commission ahead of the next general election.

In moves that have been long feared by Labour, six of its inner-city strongholds look set to be scrapped and 11 new seats will be created in the Tory shires. The moves reflect population changes, with more people living in rural and suburban areas.

But the Tories have also been more successful at arguing their case at dozens of public inquiries where the seats are carved up.

Under John Major, Labour gained about 30 seats through strong lobbying of the Boundary Commission.

As a result, the average size of the electorate in Labour seats is currently

65,000, compared with 73,000 in Conservative constituencies.

But the Tories have organised themselves much better in recent public inquiries and have effectively gained themselves about 17 seats in the process.

There is some good news for Labour in north-west London, where Liberal Democrat-held Brent East will take parts of Labour's Hampstead and Highgate.

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