Norfolk and Suffolk election shake-up recommendations

Parliamentary constituencies are set to be redrawn under the 2023 Boundary Review announced by the Boundary Commission for England – an independent public body.

Following consultation, which led to some contentious changes in Norfolk being dropped, the final recommendations have been laid before Parliament.

But one change that remains, despite opposition, is for the creation of a Waveney Valley constituency.

It would comprise parts of South Norfolk, Waveney, Suffolk Coastal and Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.

The proposed Waveney Valley constituency (Image: Boundary Commission)

As well as Diss, the new constituency would include Bunwell, Ditchingham, Bressingham, Harleston, Bungay, Halesworth and Eye.

Proposals for South Norfolk (Image: Boundary Commission)

The Boundary Commission said it received more than 80 representations about that constituency, with "the majority, by far, in opposition", but it is sticking with the recommendation.

Adrian Ramsay

Former Norwich City Council Green councillor Adrian Ramsay, who is standing for the Green Party in the new Waveney Valley constituency, said: "I am pleased that the boundary is now confirmed and excited at the prospect of representing communities across this constituency."

Wymondham (Image: Archant)

Other changes would see Drayton moved from Jerome Mayhew's seat to Chloe Smith's Norwich North constituency and Wymondham moved from George Freeman's Mid Norfolk seat to South Norfolk.

Proposals for Mid Norfolk (Image: Boundary Commission)

The proposed Broadland and Fakenham constituency (Image: Boundary Commission)

The Broadland constituency would be renamed Broadland and Fakenham, to reflect how the town is not covered by Broadland District Council.

Proposals for North Norfolk (Image: Boundary Commission)

Earlier in the process, there was a proposal to move Fakenham from Broadland to Duncan Baker's North Norfolk constituency, but that was abandoned.

Fakenham (Image: Archant 2018)

A proposal to transfer Stalham and Hickling from Duncan Baker’s North Norfolk seat to Brandon Lewis’ Great Yarmouth constituency, which the Boundary Commission said it had received the most Norfolk representations about, was scrapped.

Proposals for Great Yarmouth (Image: Boundary Commission)

Clive Lewis (Image: UK Parliament)

A proposal that Thorpe Hamlet should move from Norwich South MP Clive Lewis's seat to Norwich North was also ditched.

Proposals for Norwich North (Image: Boundary Commission)

The government has four months to bring forward an order to enact the final recommendations.

Proposals for South West Norfolk (Image: Boundary Commission)

Proposals for North West Norfolk (Image: Boundary Commission)

Proposals for Norwich South (Image: Boundary Commission)