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Proceeding contribution from Chris Bryant (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 20 October 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee of the Whole House (HC) on Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, except in one respect: the 1832 Act did not equalise the seats at all. In 1867, there was a discussion about equalising seats but that was decided against. The argument that was used then, and which has been used consistently in the past, is that it is more important for Members to represent communities than it is for there to be precisely numerically equal seats. Obviously that was, in part, because of the nature of the franchise at the time.

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
516 c1037 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Boundary commissions Constituency size Alternative vote Elections House of Lords House of Commons Distribution of seats General elections Northern Ireland Members National Assembly for Wales Referendums Peers Scotland Statistics Voting methods Wales Reviews
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk