Q&A about the boundary changes in Whalley Range

The final recommendations of the LGBCE for new ward boundaries in Manchester were published back in April and (barring something totally unexpected) they will become law some time this autumn. The next local elections of councillors on Thursday 3 May 2018 will be contested on these new boundaries, which will come into force on that date.

A ward is the geographical ‘unit of government’ within the council. In Manchester, each ward is represented by three councillors who are elected for a term of four years each under the system of voting by thirds (see this page for more information). In order for Labour to choose candidates for and campaign effectively in local government elections, most (though not all) areas are organised into Branch Labour Parties aligned geographically with council wards, and this is the case in Manchester. So the City Party has begun a process of reorganising local branches in accordance with the new ward boundaries.

To see the changes to the boundary in this area, click the map above (or download a PDF here: Whalley Range ward transition 2017-18). Some Labour members who are in the ‘old’ (ie current) Whalley Range branch will soon be in the ‘new’ Chorlton or Chorlton Park, some members currently in Moss Side and Fallowfield will be joining the ‘new’ Whalley Range, while the majority of ‘old’ Whalley Range members will also be in the ‘new’ branch.

Unfortunately, no. Many branches are happy for members from other areas to help campaign and informally attend their meetings and social events, but to participate in formal debates and (in particular) branch elections, you must live within the boundaries of the branch.

Just as wards are units of local government and Labour Party branches follow their boundaries, so a constituency is a unit of national government (represented by a Member of Parliament) and CLPs (Constituency Labour Parties) are organised accordingly to select candidates and fight parliamentary elections. So every Labour member in Manchester is in both a Branch and a Constituency Labour Party. The ‘old’ Whalley Branch ward is conveniently located within one constituency Manchester Gorton, but the ‘new’ one will be split between Manchester Gorton, and Manchester Central (the areas in the ‘old’ Moss Side ward). Similarly, Chorlton and Chorlton Park wards will be partly in Manchester Withington and partly in Gorton constituency.

This is where it gets more confusing. There is an entirely separate review of all parliamentary (ie constituency) boundaries currently underway, which is due to be completed in September 2018. This is being undertaken by the Boundary Commission for England (which is different from the LGBCE) and you can read about it here. The BCE have already produced their first proposals, and ironically have proposed no changes to our local constituencies including Manchester Gorton, so the mis-alignment between wards and constituencies would be set to continue. It’s possible that the final BCE proposals will address this disparity, but they aren’t due to be enacted before 2020 – and it’s also quite possible that they won’t be approved by Parliament at all as they are much more contentious than the local review, in which case the exising constituency boundaries would persist. So for the time being at least, while your Branch Labour Party (BLP) may be changing, your CLP (and MP) will stay the same.

No. Although the new wards won’t become effective until next May (and the currently elected Councillors will continue to represent their ‘old’ wards until then), Labour branches need to prepare now by selecting candidates and organising election campaigns for the new boundaries. So under the direction of City Party, there will be an Extraordinary General Meeting of Labour members in each of the changed ‘new’ ward areas (including Whalley Range) to constitute a new Branch party and elect Branch officers. This is due to be held in September, following which (in October) there will be meetings to select three candidates to contest the 2018 elections.

Because the boundaries are changing, the 2018 local election will be what’s called an all-out – ie every council seat is up for grabs (even though most current councillors will have served less than the normal four year term). Electors will be able to vote for up to three candidates. The candidate getting most votes will have a term of four years, while the second and third placed candidates will have terms of two and one year(s) respectively.

The process of organising the meetings is being led by the City Party. All members who are eligible will be notified of the meeting time, date and venue at least seven days in advance (probably by email).

Please use the contact form or leave a comment below. Thank you - Whalley Range Labour