Process for determining electoral boundaries in Scotland

I am delighted to have been appointed by Scottish Ministers to chair the Independent Review of the Process for Determining Electoral Boundaries in Scotland. The purpose of the Review is to consider whether there is a better way to approve changes to electoral boundaries in Scotland, and the responses to this consultation will form an important part of the considerations of this Review.

At Westminster, in other parts of the UK, and in some other countries, electoral boundary changes are not subject to a vote in Parliament, but are approved automatically. The process used varies across countries, but this type of process is referred to as ‘automaticity’. Experience in other countries shows that it is best practice to have this kind of system, where politicians do not have the ability to vote against changes to their own constituency boundaries.

Currently, Boundaries Scotland reviews the boundaries of Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions and local government electoral wards and make proposals for change in a report which is laid in the Scottish Parliament. MSPs then vote on whether to approve the proposals or not.

This consultation will discuss some of the forms of automaticity used in the UK and around the world, and ask for your views on which of the models may be a best fit for Scotland. It will also ask whether any other changes should be made as a result of any change to the approval process.

Following this consultation, a report will be prepared which will make recommendations on what system for approving changes to boundaries works best for Scotland. This report will be submitted to Scottish Ministers, who will consider the recommendations and may bring forward proposals to the Parliament to seek to change the law in the future.

Readers may be aware that Boundaries Scotland recently submitted its Second Review of Scottish Parliament boundaries to Ministers. This consultation is not a commentary on the work of Boundaries Scotland, and should not imply any criticism of the Commissioners and their recent Scottish Parliament review. I would emphasise that this review is independent of both the Scottish Government and of Boundaries Scotland.

I invite you to respond to this consultation, and make your views heard on this important aspect of Scotland’s democracy.

Andrew Kerr OBE

Chair, Independent Review of the Process for Determining Electoral Boundaries in Scotland