Murder and torture ‘carried out by both sides’ of uprising against Libyan regime
September 12, 2011 No Comment
Amnesty International report is filled with horrific abuses and killings by pro-Gaddafi forces as well as opposition fighters Rebels as well as pro-Gaddafi forces have perpetrated killings, torture and other abuses during the uprising against the Libyan regime, say human rights investigators. The civil war that brought down Muammar Gaddafi has been marked by widespread atrocities on both sides, according to Amnesty International. In one of the most comprehensive reports yet on the human cost of the six-month conflict, Amnesty offers harrowing testimony of the war crimes, killings of unarmed protesters and arbitrary detentions by Gaddafi’s security forces. But it also lifts the lid on a catalogue of reprisal attacks that have gained less international attention during the revolution. “Opposition fighters and supporters have abducted, arbitrarily detained, tortured and killed former members of the security forces, suspected Gaddafi loyalists, captured soldiers and foreign nationals wrongly suspected of being mercenaries fighting on behalf of Gaddafi forces,” Amnesty says. “No independent or credible investigations are known to have been carried out by the NTC [opposition National Transitional Council], nor effective measures taken to hold to account those responsible for these abuses.” One chapter of the report, the Battle for Libya: killings, disappearances and torture , focuses on opposition abuses which, though on a “smaller scale” than those of the regime, are said to have been often ruthless and deadly. The report says that in the first days of the uprising, groups of protesters killed captured soldiers and suspected mercenaries in al-Bayda, Derna and Benghazi. “Some were beaten to death, at least three were hanged, and others were shot dead after they had been captured or had surrendered,” the report says. Those who tried to distance themselves from Gaddafi’s military apparatus were often shown no mercy, Amnesty’s researchers found. A former member of Libya’s internal security agency, Ibrahim Khalifa al-Surmani, a father of six, was found dead on 10 May in the outskirts of Benghazi. “He had been shot in the head. His hands and feet were bound and a scarf was tightly tied around his neck. He was missing a piece of flesh from his right calf and marks on his trousers indicated that he had been kneeling. A bloodstained note bearing his name was found by the body; it read: ‘… a dog among Gaddafi’s dogs has been eliminated’.” Amnesty also found more recent unlawful killings “perpetrated by organised groups who operate freely, openly and with impunity”. Victims’ families were generally unwilling to protest for fear of reprisals and to avoid the stigma of being labelled Gaddafi loyalists or “anti-revolutionary”. In addition, opposition groups have detained hundreds of people in areas they control since the end of February, Amnesty says. These include people accused of “subverting the revolution,” who say they were never shown an arrest warrant or any other document. “In most cases, the manner of detention is better described as abduction rather than arrest,” the report argues. “They were seized by groups of heavily-armed men, some of them masked, who did not identify themselves. They were then taken away in unmarked vehicles, usually pick-up trucks with anti-aircraft machine-guns mounted at the back.” It continues: “None of the detainees, whether Libyan or foreign civilians, or Libyan soldiers, have had access to a lawyer, been formally charged, or been given the opportunity to challenge their detention before a judicial authority.” Several detainees, including Libyan and foreign civilians, as well as captured soldiers, told Amnesty that they were tortured. Most commonly reported methods included beatings all over the body with objects such as belts, metal bars, sticks, rifle butts and rubber hoses (at times directly on exposed flesh); electric shocks; and threats – including rape. The report states: “Victims are subjected to beatings and other abuses seemingly to extract confessions and to punish them for their alleged ‘crimes’. In some cases, detainees are forced to sign or thumb-print statements under torture or duress without being allowed to read them. In fact, several detainees told Amnesty International that they were interrogated while blindfolded.” Amnesty was shown video footage of a group of rebels taunting captured soldiers at the al-Jalaa hospital in Benghazi, forcing them to repeat “I am a Gaddafi dog,” and chew paper. A detainee at the Saadoun secondary school detention centre in Misrata claimed he was often beaten with a metal bar or belt or given electric shocks. “It is very painful,” the man was quoted as saying. “He wants me to confess that I have killed, raped and stolen; at least one of these crimes. When I say that I didn’t do any of these things he tortures me more harshly.” Amnesty says NTC officials have shown willingness to take steps to improve prison conditions and avoid future abuses, but seemed reluctant to investigate and bring those responsible to justice. The NTC sought to distance itself from the alleged violations. A spokeswoman for the NTC said: “The Amnesty report is overwhelmingly filled with the horrific abuses and killings by the Gaddafi regime. However, there are a small number of incidents involving those opposed to Gaddafi; the NTC strongly condemns any abuses perpetrated by either side.” She added: “The NTC is firmly committed to upholding human rights and the rule of law, both international and local. The violation of rights no longer has a place in Libya. The NTC is putting its efforts to bring any armed groups under official authorities and will fully investigate any incidents brought to our attention.” The findings are largely based on Amnesty’s visit to Libya between 26 February and 28 May, including to the cities of al-Bayda, Ajdabiya, Brega, Benghazi, Misrata and Ras Lanouf. The report claims foreigners have been targeted by both sides, particularly individuals with dark skin. But the report adds: The report says people with dark skin were targeted by both sides, but “the allegations about the use of mercenaries proved to be largely unfounded”. The report chronicles in depth the atrocities committed by Gaddafi loyalists, including artillery, mortar and rocket attacks against residential areas and use of indiscriminate weapons such as anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs. Civilians not involved in the fighting were killed and extra-judicial executions carried out. Amnesty found an extensive campaign of enforced disappearances of perceived opponents across the country, including journalists, writers, online activists and protesters. Thousands of Libyans were abducted from their homes, mosques and streets, or captured near the frontline, frequently with the use of violence. Among the disappeared were children as young as 12. Libya Middle East Africa Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East unrest David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Murder and torture ‘carried out by both sides’ of uprising against Libyan regime
September 12, 2011 No Comment
Amnesty International report is filled with horrific abuses and killings by pro-Gaddafi forces as well as opposition fighters Rebels as well as pro-Gaddafi forces have perpetrated killings, torture and other abuses during the uprising against the Libyan regime, say human rights investigators. The civil war that brought down Muammar Gaddafi has been marked by widespread atrocities on both sides, according to Amnesty International. In one of the most comprehensive reports yet on the human cost of the six-month conflict, Amnesty offers harrowing testimony of the war crimes, killings of unarmed protesters and arbitrary detentions by Gaddafi’s security forces. But it also lifts the lid on a catalogue of reprisal attacks that have gained less international attention during the revolution. “Opposition fighters and supporters have abducted, arbitrarily detained, tortured and killed former members of the security forces, suspected Gaddafi loyalists, captured soldiers and foreign nationals wrongly suspected of being mercenaries fighting on behalf of Gaddafi forces,” Amnesty says. “No independent or credible investigations are known to have been carried out by the NTC [opposition National Transitional Council], nor effective measures taken to hold to account those responsible for these abuses.” One chapter of the report, the Battle for Libya: killings, disappearances and torture , focuses on opposition abuses which, though on a “smaller scale” than those of the regime, are said to have been often ruthless and deadly. The report says that in the first days of the uprising, groups of protesters killed captured soldiers and suspected mercenaries in al-Bayda, Derna and Benghazi. “Some were beaten to death, at least three were hanged, and others were shot dead after they had been captured or had surrendered,” the report says. Those who tried to distance themselves from Gaddafi’s military apparatus were often shown no mercy, Amnesty’s researchers found. A former member of Libya’s internal security agency, Ibrahim Khalifa al-Surmani, a father of six, was found dead on 10 May in the outskirts of Benghazi. “He had been shot in the head. His hands and feet were bound and a scarf was tightly tied around his neck. He was missing a piece of flesh from his right calf and marks on his trousers indicated that he had been kneeling. A bloodstained note bearing his name was found by the body; it read: ‘… a dog among Gaddafi’s dogs has been eliminated’.” Amnesty also found more recent unlawful killings “perpetrated by organised groups who operate freely, openly and with impunity”. Victims’ families were generally unwilling to protest for fear of reprisals and to avoid the stigma of being labelled Gaddafi loyalists or “anti-revolutionary”. In addition, opposition groups have detained hundreds of people in areas they control since the end of February, Amnesty says. These include people accused of “subverting the revolution,” who say they were never shown an arrest warrant or any other document. “In most cases, the manner of detention is better described as abduction rather than arrest,” the report argues. “They were seized by groups of heavily-armed men, some of them masked, who did not identify themselves. They were then taken away in unmarked vehicles, usually pick-up trucks with anti-aircraft machine-guns mounted at the back.” It continues: “None of the detainees, whether Libyan or foreign civilians, or Libyan soldiers, have had access to a lawyer, been formally charged, or been given the opportunity to challenge their detention before a judicial authority.” Several detainees, including Libyan and foreign civilians, as well as captured soldiers, told Amnesty that they were tortured. Most commonly reported methods included beatings all over the body with objects such as belts, metal bars, sticks, rifle butts and rubber hoses (at times directly on exposed flesh); electric shocks; and threats – including rape. The report states: “Victims are subjected to beatings and other abuses seemingly to extract confessions and to punish them for their alleged ‘crimes’. In some cases, detainees are forced to sign or thumb-print statements under torture or duress without being allowed to read them. In fact, several detainees told Amnesty International that they were interrogated while blindfolded.” Amnesty was shown video footage of a group of rebels taunting captured soldiers at the al-Jalaa hospital in Benghazi, forcing them to repeat “I am a Gaddafi dog,” and chew paper. A detainee at the Saadoun secondary school detention centre in Misrata claimed he was often beaten with a metal bar or belt or given electric shocks. “It is very painful,” the man was quoted as saying. “He wants me to confess that I have killed, raped and stolen; at least one of these crimes. When I say that I didn’t do any of these things he tortures me more harshly.” Amnesty says NTC officials have shown willingness to take steps to improve prison conditions and avoid future abuses, but seemed reluctant to investigate and bring those responsible to justice. The NTC sought to distance itself from the alleged violations. A spokeswoman for the NTC said: “The Amnesty report is overwhelmingly filled with the horrific abuses and killings by the Gaddafi regime. However, there are a small number of incidents involving those opposed to Gaddafi; the NTC strongly condemns any abuses perpetrated by either side.” She added: “The NTC is firmly committed to upholding human rights and the rule of law, both international and local. The violation of rights no longer has a place in Libya. The NTC is putting its efforts to bring any armed groups under official authorities and will fully investigate any incidents brought to our attention.” The findings are largely based on Amnesty’s visit to Libya between 26 February and 28 May, including to the cities of al-Bayda, Ajdabiya, Brega, Benghazi, Misrata and Ras Lanouf. The report claims foreigners have been targeted by both sides, particularly individuals with dark skin. But the report adds: The report says people with dark skin were targeted by both sides, but “the allegations about the use of mercenaries proved to be largely unfounded”. The report chronicles in depth the atrocities committed by Gaddafi loyalists, including artillery, mortar and rocket attacks against residential areas and use of indiscriminate weapons such as anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs. Civilians not involved in the fighting were killed and extra-judicial executions carried out. Amnesty found an extensive campaign of enforced disappearances of perceived opponents across the country, including journalists, writers, online activists and protesters. Thousands of Libyans were abducted from their homes, mosques and streets, or captured near the frontline, frequently with the use of violence. Among the disappeared were children as young as 12. Libya Middle East Africa Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East unrest David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Murder and torture ‘carried out by both sides’ of uprising against Libyan regime
September 12, 2011 No Comment
Amnesty International report is filled with horrific abuses and killings by pro-Gaddafi forces as well as opposition fighters Rebels as well as pro-Gaddafi forces have perpetrated killings, torture and other abuses during the uprising against the Libyan regime, say human rights investigators. The civil war that brought down Muammar Gaddafi has been marked by widespread atrocities on both sides, according to Amnesty International. In one of the most comprehensive reports yet on the human cost of the six-month conflict, Amnesty offers harrowing testimony of the war crimes, killings of unarmed protesters and arbitrary detentions by Gaddafi’s security forces. But it also lifts the lid on a catalogue of reprisal attacks that have gained less international attention during the revolution. “Opposition fighters and supporters have abducted, arbitrarily detained, tortured and killed former members of the security forces, suspected Gaddafi loyalists, captured soldiers and foreign nationals wrongly suspected of being mercenaries fighting on behalf of Gaddafi forces,” Amnesty says. “No independent or credible investigations are known to have been carried out by the NTC [opposition National Transitional Council], nor effective measures taken to hold to account those responsible for these abuses.” One chapter of the report, the Battle for Libya: killings, disappearances and torture , focuses on opposition abuses which, though on a “smaller scale” than those of the regime, are said to have been often ruthless and deadly. The report says that in the first days of the uprising, groups of protesters killed captured soldiers and suspected mercenaries in al-Bayda, Derna and Benghazi. “Some were beaten to death, at least three were hanged, and others were shot dead after they had been captured or had surrendered,” the report says. Those who tried to distance themselves from Gaddafi’s military apparatus were often shown no mercy, Amnesty’s researchers found. A former member of Libya’s internal security agency, Ibrahim Khalifa al-Surmani, a father of six, was found dead on 10 May in the outskirts of Benghazi. “He had been shot in the head. His hands and feet were bound and a scarf was tightly tied around his neck. He was missing a piece of flesh from his right calf and marks on his trousers indicated that he had been kneeling. A bloodstained note bearing his name was found by the body; it read: ‘… a dog among Gaddafi’s dogs has been eliminated’.” Amnesty also found more recent unlawful killings “perpetrated by organised groups who operate freely, openly and with impunity”. Victims’ families were generally unwilling to protest for fear of reprisals and to avoid the stigma of being labelled Gaddafi loyalists or “anti-revolutionary”. In addition, opposition groups have detained hundreds of people in areas they control since the end of February, Amnesty says. These include people accused of “subverting the revolution,” who say they were never shown an arrest warrant or any other document. “In most cases, the manner of detention is better described as abduction rather than arrest,” the report argues. “They were seized by groups of heavily-armed men, some of them masked, who did not identify themselves. They were then taken away in unmarked vehicles, usually pick-up trucks with anti-aircraft machine-guns mounted at the back.” It continues: “None of the detainees, whether Libyan or foreign civilians, or Libyan soldiers, have had access to a lawyer, been formally charged, or been given the opportunity to challenge their detention before a judicial authority.” Several detainees, including Libyan and foreign civilians, as well as captured soldiers, told Amnesty that they were tortured. Most commonly reported methods included beatings all over the body with objects such as belts, metal bars, sticks, rifle butts and rubber hoses (at times directly on exposed flesh); electric shocks; and threats – including rape. The report states: “Victims are subjected to beatings and other abuses seemingly to extract confessions and to punish them for their alleged ‘crimes’. In some cases, detainees are forced to sign or thumb-print statements under torture or duress without being allowed to read them. In fact, several detainees told Amnesty International that they were interrogated while blindfolded.” Amnesty was shown video footage of a group of rebels taunting captured soldiers at the al-Jalaa hospital in Benghazi, forcing them to repeat “I am a Gaddafi dog,” and chew paper. A detainee at the Saadoun secondary school detention centre in Misrata claimed he was often beaten with a metal bar or belt or given electric shocks. “It is very painful,” the man was quoted as saying. “He wants me to confess that I have killed, raped and stolen; at least one of these crimes. When I say that I didn’t do any of these things he tortures me more harshly.” Amnesty says NTC officials have shown willingness to take steps to improve prison conditions and avoid future abuses, but seemed reluctant to investigate and bring those responsible to justice. The NTC sought to distance itself from the alleged violations. A spokeswoman for the NTC said: “The Amnesty report is overwhelmingly filled with the horrific abuses and killings by the Gaddafi regime. However, there are a small number of incidents involving those opposed to Gaddafi; the NTC strongly condemns any abuses perpetrated by either side.” She added: “The NTC is firmly committed to upholding human rights and the rule of law, both international and local. The violation of rights no longer has a place in Libya. The NTC is putting its efforts to bring any armed groups under official authorities and will fully investigate any incidents brought to our attention.” The findings are largely based on Amnesty’s visit to Libya between 26 February and 28 May, including to the cities of al-Bayda, Ajdabiya, Brega, Benghazi, Misrata and Ras Lanouf. The report claims foreigners have been targeted by both sides, particularly individuals with dark skin. But the report adds: The report says people with dark skin were targeted by both sides, but “the allegations about the use of mercenaries proved to be largely unfounded”. The report chronicles in depth the atrocities committed by Gaddafi loyalists, including artillery, mortar and rocket attacks against residential areas and use of indiscriminate weapons such as anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs. Civilians not involved in the fighting were killed and extra-judicial executions carried out. Amnesty found an extensive campaign of enforced disappearances of perceived opponents across the country, including journalists, writers, online activists and protesters. Thousands of Libyans were abducted from their homes, mosques and streets, or captured near the frontline, frequently with the use of violence. Among the disappeared were children as young as 12. Libya Middle East Africa Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East unrest David Smith guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Reduction in number of constituencies will see high-profile figures face election battle as seats are merged A series of clashes between high-profile MPs from the main political parties will take place at the next general election, after the boundary review unveiled bigger than expected changes to England’s parliamentary constituencies. As anxious Conservatives warned their whips on Monday night of a rebellion against the changes, which will have to be approved by the Commons, MPs across the house were ready for bruising battles. Vince Cable leads a list of senior Liberal Democrat MPs who face major changes to their constituencies. Large chunks of Cable’s Twickenham will be joined with Richmond, setting up a possible clash at the election between the business secretary and Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park. Cable may decide to stand in the new seat of Teddington and Hanworth which takes in much of his old seat of Twickenham. The main changes in the review by the Boundary Commission for England, which is designed to reduce the size of the commons from 650 MPs to 600, include: • A clash between two rising stars of the Labour: shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan and shadow business minister Chuka Umunna. Their seats of Streatham and Tooting are combined into one. • Major changes to the Chingford and Woodford Green seat held by Iain Duncan Smith, work and pensions secretary. Three strong Labour wards from Edmonton will be added to the seat, which becomes Chingford and Edmonton. • A “significantly reconfigured” seat of Eastleigh, Hampshire, held by Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary. • Changes to George Osborne’s Tatton seat. He is said to be relaxed because he believes his seat remains largely intact under the new name of Northwich. • Hugh Robertson, sports minister, loses his seat in Faversham and Mid Kent. • Nadine Dorries, the Tory abortion campaigner, loses her Mid Bedfordshire seat. Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, will face a widely redrawn seat to be renamed Kendal and Penrith. This prompted speculation that Farron, seen as a future Lib Dem leader, would face a fight to remain in parliament. However, Tory sources feel the changes are gloomier for Rory Stewart, MP for neighbouring Penrith and the Border. All MPs with English seats were given personal copies of the Boundary Commission for England report in parliament’s Portcullis House at midday on Monday before its publication at midnight. Separate reports by the commissions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be released later. MPs sat in groups in Portcullis House poring over maps of the changes that will see the number of constituencies cut from 533 to 502. Tory MPs, who had been led to believe by their party leadership that the review would favour their party, were involved in tense discussions with their whips about the changes, which went further than they expected. “We are not happy about this,” one senior Tory said. “There are MPs who gave up a lot to come here and now it looks like they face real fights. Whips have been coming up to us and asking how we are taking this. Not well is the message.” The MP said it was possible that the changes might be dropped. “This is far more wide-ranging than anyone had thought. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is dropped. They’ll just say it is all too complicated and they’ll come back to it after the election.” Downing Street sources said the prime minister, whose Witney constituency remains unchanged, was adamant that the changes will go ahead. The Tories and Lib Dems both pledged in their manifestos to cut the size of the Commons. Cutting the number of seats from 650 to 600 is designed to save £12m a year and even up the size of seats. The Tories believe that Labour has an unfair advantage. The average size of the electorate in a Labour seat is 68,487, compared with 72,418 in Conservative seats. The average size of a Lib Dem seat is 69,440, mainly because it has proportionally more seats in Scotland where constituencies tend to be smaller. Under the changes, a parliamentary constituency must have an electorate that is no smaller than 72,810 and no larger than 80,473. There will be exemptions. The Isle of Wight, which has an electorate of just over 100,000 and is currently one constituency, is to be broken into two seats. Orkney and Shetland will be one seat. Na h-Eileanan an Iar, formerly the Western Isles, will remain as one seat even though it has an electorate of just over 20,000. Tory, Labour and Lib Dem strategists were working late into the night to assess the impact of the changes. Sources said it would take time to make a proper assessment. But in initial conclusions the Tories feared they had been handed many more marginal seats, though that could work in Cameron’s favour at the next election if there is a swing to the Conservatives. The Lib Dems will face a challenge because changes to seats stretch the resources of a smaller party. But they point to the success of Sarah Teather, the education minister, who held on in the new seat of Brent Central. None of the main parties commented publicly in detail on the Boundary Commission review but Ed Miliband criticised the government’s plans to cut the size of the Commons. “We have serious concerns about the government’s decision to change the boundaries, which we believe was an act of gerrymandering by the Conservative party,” the Labour leader said. “However the Labour party now intends to take time to examine the initial proposals before making our formal response.” Pete Reeve, the Ukip local government spokesman, said: “It weakens the already tenuous link between the MP and his or her constituents. By increasing the size of the constituencies it will have the effect of pushing people away, rather than drawing them into the political process. Each MP will have to look after even more people, and there are precious few today who look after those they have very well.” Electoral reform Liberal Democrats Conservatives Labour Vince Cable Nicholas Watt guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Reduction in number of constituencies will see high-profile figures face election battle as seats are merged A series of clashes between high-profile MPs from the main political parties will take place at the next general election, after the boundary review unveiled bigger than expected changes to England’s parliamentary constituencies. As anxious Conservatives warned their whips on Monday night of a rebellion against the changes, which will have to be approved by the Commons, MPs across the house were ready for bruising battles. Vince Cable leads a list of senior Liberal Democrat MPs who face major changes to their constituencies. Large chunks of Cable’s Twickenham will be joined with Richmond, setting up a possible clash at the election between the business secretary and Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park. Cable may decide to stand in the new seat of Teddington and Hanworth which takes in much of his old seat of Twickenham. The main changes in the review by the Boundary Commission for England, which is designed to reduce the size of the commons from 650 MPs to 600, include: • A clash between two rising stars of the Labour: shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan and shadow business minister Chuka Umunna. Their seats of Streatham and Tooting are combined into one. • Major changes to the Chingford and Woodford Green seat held by Iain Duncan Smith, work and pensions secretary. Three strong Labour wards from Edmonton will be added to the seat, which becomes Chingford and Edmonton. • A “significantly reconfigured” seat of Eastleigh, Hampshire, held by Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary. • Changes to George Osborne’s Tatton seat. He is said to be relaxed because he believes his seat remains largely intact under the new name of Northwich. • Hugh Robertson, sports minister, loses his seat in Faversham and Mid Kent. • Nadine Dorries, the Tory abortion campaigner, loses her Mid Bedfordshire seat. Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, will face a widely redrawn seat to be renamed Kendal and Penrith. This prompted speculation that Farron, seen as a future Lib Dem leader, would face a fight to remain in parliament. However, Tory sources feel the changes are gloomier for Rory Stewart, MP for neighbouring Penrith and the Border. All MPs with English seats were given personal copies of the Boundary Commission for England report in parliament’s Portcullis House at midday on Monday before its publication at midnight. Separate reports by the commissions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be released later. MPs sat in groups in Portcullis House poring over maps of the changes that will see the number of constituencies cut from 533 to 502. Tory MPs, who had been led to believe by their party leadership that the review would favour their party, were involved in tense discussions with their whips about the changes, which went further than they expected. “We are not happy about this,” one senior Tory said. “There are MPs who gave up a lot to come here and now it looks like they face real fights. Whips have been coming up to us and asking how we are taking this. Not well is the message.” The MP said it was possible that the changes might be dropped. “This is far more wide-ranging than anyone had thought. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is dropped. They’ll just say it is all too complicated and they’ll come back to it after the election.” Downing Street sources said the prime minister, whose Witney constituency remains unchanged, was adamant that the changes will go ahead. The Tories and Lib Dems both pledged in their manifestos to cut the size of the Commons. Cutting the number of seats from 650 to 600 is designed to save £12m a year and even up the size of seats. The Tories believe that Labour has an unfair advantage. The average size of the electorate in a Labour seat is 68,487, compared with 72,418 in Conservative seats. The average size of a Lib Dem seat is 69,440, mainly because it has proportionally more seats in Scotland where constituencies tend to be smaller. Under the changes, a parliamentary constituency must have an electorate that is no smaller than 72,810 and no larger than 80,473. There will be exemptions. The Isle of Wight, which has an electorate of just over 100,000 and is currently one constituency, is to be broken into two seats. Orkney and Shetland will be one seat. Na h-Eileanan an Iar, formerly the Western Isles, will remain as one seat even though it has an electorate of just over 20,000. Tory, Labour and Lib Dem strategists were working late into the night to assess the impact of the changes. Sources said it would take time to make a proper assessment. But in initial conclusions the Tories feared they had been handed many more marginal seats, though that could work in Cameron’s favour at the next election if there is a swing to the Conservatives. The Lib Dems will face a challenge because changes to seats stretch the resources of a smaller party. But they point to the success of Sarah Teather, the education minister, who held on in the new seat of Brent Central. None of the main parties commented publicly in detail on the Boundary Commission review but Ed Miliband criticised the government’s plans to cut the size of the Commons. “We have serious concerns about the government’s decision to change the boundaries, which we believe was an act of gerrymandering by the Conservative party,” the Labour leader said. “However the Labour party now intends to take time to examine the initial proposals before making our formal response.” Pete Reeve, the Ukip local government spokesman, said: “It weakens the already tenuous link between the MP and his or her constituents. By increasing the size of the constituencies it will have the effect of pushing people away, rather than drawing them into the political process. Each MP will have to look after even more people, and there are precious few today who look after those they have very well.” Electoral reform Liberal Democrats Conservatives Labour Vince Cable Nicholas Watt guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Reduction in number of constituencies will see high-profile figures face election battle as seats are merged A series of clashes between high-profile MPs from the main political parties will take place at the next general election, after the boundary review unveiled bigger than expected changes to England’s parliamentary constituencies. As anxious Conservatives warned their whips on Monday night of a rebellion against the changes, which will have to be approved by the Commons, MPs across the house were ready for bruising battles. Vince Cable leads a list of senior Liberal Democrat MPs who face major changes to their constituencies. Large chunks of Cable’s Twickenham will be joined with Richmond, setting up a possible clash at the election between the business secretary and Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park. Cable may decide to stand in the new seat of Teddington and Hanworth which takes in much of his old seat of Twickenham. The main changes in the review by the Boundary Commission for England, which is designed to reduce the size of the commons from 650 MPs to 600, include: • A clash between two rising stars of the Labour: shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan and shadow business minister Chuka Umunna. Their seats of Streatham and Tooting are combined into one. • Major changes to the Chingford and Woodford Green seat held by Iain Duncan Smith, work and pensions secretary. Three strong Labour wards from Edmonton will be added to the seat, which becomes Chingford and Edmonton. • A “significantly reconfigured” seat of Eastleigh, Hampshire, held by Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary. • Changes to George Osborne’s Tatton seat. He is said to be relaxed because he believes his seat remains largely intact under the new name of Northwich. • Hugh Robertson, sports minister, loses his seat in Faversham and Mid Kent. • Nadine Dorries, the Tory abortion campaigner, loses her Mid Bedfordshire seat. Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, will face a widely redrawn seat to be renamed Kendal and Penrith. This prompted speculation that Farron, seen as a future Lib Dem leader, would face a fight to remain in parliament. However, Tory sources feel the changes are gloomier for Rory Stewart, MP for neighbouring Penrith and the Border. All MPs with English seats were given personal copies of the Boundary Commission for England report in parliament’s Portcullis House at midday on Monday before its publication at midnight. Separate reports by the commissions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be released later. MPs sat in groups in Portcullis House poring over maps of the changes that will see the number of constituencies cut from 533 to 502. Tory MPs, who had been led to believe by their party leadership that the review would favour their party, were involved in tense discussions with their whips about the changes, which went further than they expected. “We are not happy about this,” one senior Tory said. “There are MPs who gave up a lot to come here and now it looks like they face real fights. Whips have been coming up to us and asking how we are taking this. Not well is the message.” The MP said it was possible that the changes might be dropped. “This is far more wide-ranging than anyone had thought. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is dropped. They’ll just say it is all too complicated and they’ll come back to it after the election.” Downing Street sources said the prime minister, whose Witney constituency remains unchanged, was adamant that the changes will go ahead. The Tories and Lib Dems both pledged in their manifestos to cut the size of the Commons. Cutting the number of seats from 650 to 600 is designed to save £12m a year and even up the size of seats. The Tories believe that Labour has an unfair advantage. The average size of the electorate in a Labour seat is 68,487, compared with 72,418 in Conservative seats. The average size of a Lib Dem seat is 69,440, mainly because it has proportionally more seats in Scotland where constituencies tend to be smaller. Under the changes, a parliamentary constituency must have an electorate that is no smaller than 72,810 and no larger than 80,473. There will be exemptions. The Isle of Wight, which has an electorate of just over 100,000 and is currently one constituency, is to be broken into two seats. Orkney and Shetland will be one seat. Na h-Eileanan an Iar, formerly the Western Isles, will remain as one seat even though it has an electorate of just over 20,000. Tory, Labour and Lib Dem strategists were working late into the night to assess the impact of the changes. Sources said it would take time to make a proper assessment. But in initial conclusions the Tories feared they had been handed many more marginal seats, though that could work in Cameron’s favour at the next election if there is a swing to the Conservatives. The Lib Dems will face a challenge because changes to seats stretch the resources of a smaller party. But they point to the success of Sarah Teather, the education minister, who held on in the new seat of Brent Central. None of the main parties commented publicly in detail on the Boundary Commission review but Ed Miliband criticised the government’s plans to cut the size of the Commons. “We have serious concerns about the government’s decision to change the boundaries, which we believe was an act of gerrymandering by the Conservative party,” the Labour leader said. “However the Labour party now intends to take time to examine the initial proposals before making our formal response.” Pete Reeve, the Ukip local government spokesman, said: “It weakens the already tenuous link between the MP and his or her constituents. By increasing the size of the constituencies it will have the effect of pushing people away, rather than drawing them into the political process. Each MP will have to look after even more people, and there are precious few today who look after those they have very well.” Electoral reform Liberal Democrats Conservatives Labour Vince Cable Nicholas Watt guardian.co.uk
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