The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – West Midlands
Coventry
Initial proposals
Of Coventry’s existing three constituencies, just one (Coventry South) is outside the permitted electorate range, sitting just below the minimum. The wards in Coventry have very high electorates, so it was not possible to transfer a single ward. Our initial proposals therefore exchanged Coventry South’s Binley and Willenhall ward for the larger electorate of the Lower Stoke ward in the existing Coventry North East constituency (consequently proposing to change the name of the latter to Coventry East).
In response to the consultation on our initial proposals, there was a mix of opposition and support. Opposition to the initial proposals included two counter proposals, both of which sought to transfer the Woodlands ward into Coventry South, as well as keep both the Upper Stoke and Lower Stoke wards in their existing constituency, but each moved different other wards in order to do so: one would transfer St. Michael’s ward to Coventry North West; the other would move Binley and Willenhall north and move Foleshill ward west into Coventry North West.
There was conflicting evidence received as to the strength of ties between various wards that would be separated or put together in the initial proposals, or in either of the counter proposals. In particular there were differing views about the connection between: Binley and Willenhall ward and Cheylesmore ward; Lower Stoke and Upper Stoke; Lower Stoke, St. Michael’s and Cheylesmore wards; and St. Michael’s and surrounding wards.
Our Assistant Commissioners considered all the evidence carefully and also visited the areas. They were persuaded that the ties of St. Michael’s ward were stronger with wards to the south and east of it, so it would not be appropriate to accept the alternative proposal that would transfer this ward to Coventry North West constituency. Similarly, they considered that the alternative proposal to move Foleshill ward into Coventry North West would break ties it had with wards to its east, as well as changing all three existing constituencies in Coventry, rather than only two. They accordingly recommended no revisions to our initial proposals for Coventry, and we agreed.
In the consultation on our revised proposals, we received a very low number of responses commenting specifically on the proposed constituencies for Coventry. Of these, however, the overwhelming majority accepted or actively supported the proposals, and no new arguments, evidence or counter proposals were received.
In light of the general support shown for our proposed Coventry constituencies in the latest consultation, and the lack of any new opposing evidence, argument or alternatives, we recommend the following constituencies: Coventry East; Coventry North West; and Coventry South. The areas covered by these constituencies are listed in Volume two and shown on the maps in Volume three of this report.
