The Borough could be carved up into three constituencies under Boundary Commission proposals

Map showing proposed constituencies

New Boundary Commission proposals could see the Borough changing from the current two Parliamentary constituencies to three.

Under the new proposals, Balderstone and Kirkholt, Milnrow and Newhey, Littleborough Lakeside, Smallbridge and Firgrove, and Wardle and West Littleborough will form part of the Littleborough and Saddleworth constituency.

Central Rochdale, Healey, Kingsway, Milkstone and Deeplish, and Spotland and Falinge are set to be in a new Rochdale Constituency alongside Bamford, Castleton, Norden and Heywood.

All Middleton wards, along with Hopwood, will become part of the new Middleton and Prestwich constituency.

The Borough is currently represented by two MPs, Liz McInnes (Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton) and Simon Danczuk, who is Independent following a suspension by the Labour Party.

Councillor Andy Kelly said: “We (the Lib Dems) will not be challenging these proposals as we believe the Borough is better off with three Parliamentary champions rather than two.”

Conservative leader locally, Councillor Ashley Dearnley said: “A boundary review is a good idea as the current boundary is very unfair.

“We welcome the changes which will make the number of voters fairer.”

Under existing Labour Party rules, if a new constituency contains 40% or more of a previous constituency, that seat's MP is entitled to seek selection.

• Over 40% of the current Heywood & Middleton constituency is in the new proposed Rochdale constituency.
• Over 40% of the current Heywood & Middleton constituency is in the new proposed Middleton and Prestwich constituency.
• Over 40% of the current Rochdale constituency is in the new Rochdale constituency.
• Over 40% of the current Rochdale constituency is in the new Littleborough and Saddleworth constituency.

The proposals are part of a plan to cut MP seats from 650 to 600 nationwide and to give a fairer proportion of voters in each constituency.

Ms McInnes and Mr Danczuk were unavailable for comment.

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Link to BBC article with interactive map of proposed boundaries:

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32695546

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How the proposals were reached

Each constituency in the UK should contain roughly the same number of eligible voters, the so-called 'electoral quota', which is reached by dividing the total electorate of the UK by the number of required constituencies.

After excluding the Isle of Wight and two Scottish island constituencies, the quota currently stands at 74,769, based on the electoral register as it stood on 1 December 2015.

Below is a breakdown of the three proposed constiuencies that would cover the borough - in brackets is the current constituency.

Littleborough and Saddleworth - 75,203

• Crompton 8,064 (Oldham East and Saddleworth)
• Saddleworth North 7,651 (Oldham East and Saddleworth)
• Saddleworth South 8,030 (Oldham East and Saddleworth)
• Shaw 7,388 (Oldham East and Saddleworth)
• Royton North 7,736 (Oldham West and Royton)
• Balderstone and Kirkholt 6,636 (Rochdale)
• Littleborough Lakeside 7,410 (Rochdale)
• Milnrow and Newhey 7,582 (Rochdale)
• Smallbridge and Firgrove 7,344 (Rochdale)
• Wardle and West Littleborough 7,362 (Rochdale) 

Rochdale - 73,781

• Bamford 7,377 (Heywood and Middleton)
• Castleton 7,400 (Heywood and Middleton)
• Norden 7,505 (Heywood and Middleton)
• North Heywood 7,164 (Heywood and Middleton)
• West Heywood 8,139 (Heywood and Middleton)
• Central Rochdale 6,509 (Rochdale)
• Healey 7,674 (Rochdale)
• Kingsway 7,819 (Rochdale)
• Milkstone and Deeplish 6,804 (Rochdale)
• Spotland and Falinge 7,390 (Rochdale) 

Prestwich and Middleton BC 76,824

• Besses 7,667 (Bury South)
• Holyrood 8,333 (Bury South)
• St Mary's 7,371 (Bury South)
• Sedgley 8,128 (Bury South)
• Unsworth 7,030 (Bury South)
• East Middleton 7,371 (Heywood and Middleton)
• Hopwood Hall 7,798 (Heywood and Middleton)
• North Middleton 7,462 (Heywood and Middleton)
• South Middleton 7,631 (Heywood and Middleton)