MP backs boundary change vote result (From Croydon Guardian)

MP Tom Brake glad to keep Croydon out of his constituency

1:10pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News By Mike Pyle

An MP has welcomed the result of a vote to keep parliamentary boundaries as they are.

MPs rejected a plan to redraw national parliamentary boundaries which would have enlarged Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake's Carshalton and Wallington constituency to include part of Croydon and increased pressure on his seat from the Conservatives and Labour.

The vote, which happened in the House of Commons on Monday, was on whether to implement a plan to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600. As part of the plan the Carshalton and Wallington constituency would have been extended to include Coulsden.

Mr Brake said: "I am extremely happy with the result of the vote. Constituencies cannot be reduced to lines on a map. They represent communities. I have always argued that Carshalton and Wallington are better off together.

"The proposal to split this strong community was against our best interest. There are many issues specific to Carshalton and Wallington. Would an MP who represented part of Croydon wholeheartedly back the campaign to save St Helier Hospital? It is a good day for our community."