The North East is set to lose two MPs under plans that could redraw England’s political map before the next general election. Under latest proposals by the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) Newcastle International Airport could become part of the Hexham constituency and Tony Blair's former patch of Sedgefield could soon be abolished.
The plans, published on Tuesday could see Parliamentary constituencies in the region cut from 29 to 27. The new proposals, revised from a previous version unveiled in summer 2021, include a number of key changes that could see residents move into a new constituency – and leave some existing MPs struggling to keep their job.
It could mean a number of existing seats could be wiped, including North Tyneside, Wansbeck, North West Durham, and Sedgefield. The BCE has backtracked on some of the most controversial aspects of its previous designs, including major changes in Sunderland and a possible Whitley Bay and Cramlington constituency, but others have remained – including shifting Newcastle International Airport and other outlying parts of the city into the Hexham seat.
