Moray Labour says 'no realistic prospect' of saving Moray constituency, submits alternative proposals to Boundary Commission
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MORAY Council's Labour group has proposed different plans for new constituencies, admitting there is "no realistic prospect" of keeping Moray whole.
In response to controversial Boundary Commission plans to split Moray into two new constituencies, Moray's three Labour councillors have submitted alternative maps.
In their letter, the Labour group said: "It is apparent to us that there is no realistic prospect of retaining the existing Moray constituency.
"We, therefore, offer the following alternative proposals for your consideration."
Labour’s proposals focus on three aspects of the Commission’s proposals: ensuring the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward remains in the same constituency as Elgin; ensuring the southern boundary of Elgin takes account of development in the area; and renaming proposals to ensure Moray stays prominent.
Currently, the Boundary Commission's proposed new constituencies are to be named Elgin, Nairn and Strathspey, in the west, and Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.
Elgin South Councillor and group leader John Divers said: “The commission’s current proposals take no account of the thousands of houses being built to the south of Elgin.
"For them to be in the same constituency as Peterhead, and not Elgin, would be utter madness.”
Labour has submitted three options for new constituencies to the Boundary Commission.
The first involves the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward remaining in the same constituency as Elgin (Nairn, Strathspey, and Moray West) by transferring most of the Speyside Glenlivet ward to Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, with the exceptions of Dallas, Rothes and Knockando.
Labour also wants the western constituency to be renamed either Moray and Nairn or Moray, Nairn, and Strathspey – and the eastern constituency named Banffshire and Buchan.
The second proposal involves including Lhanbryde, Pitgaveny and Fogwatt in Nairn, Strathspey, and Moray West.
Under this option, Dallas would also be included in Nairn, Strathspey, and Moray West due to its close connection to Forres.
The southern Elgin boundary would also be adjusted to ensure developments in the south of Elgin remain in the same constituency as the town.
This option would call the western constituency Moray and Nairn – or Moray, Nairn, and Strathspey – and Banffshire, Buchan, and Lennox in the east.
In all constituencies proposed the word Moray comes first, which Labour says reflects the fact that Moray would constitute the vast majority of the electorate.
Labour Councillor for Fochabers Lhanbryde Ben Williams, said: “We’re asking the Boundary Commission to help ensure that boundaries recognise the fact that the areas in the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward, which include the likes of Garmouth and Spey Bay, have always been associated with Elgin, and not Banffshire or Aberdeenshire.
"Our proposals show how this can be done sensibly within their own rules, so we hope that the Commission will take this common-sense approach.”
Labour's third proposal involves just renaming the constituencies, in a "disappointing" worst-case scenario.
Under these plans, Nairn, Strathspey, and Moray West would be dubbed Moray West, Nairn, and Strathspey.
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East would become either Banffshire, Buchan, and Lower Speyside or Banffshire, Buchan, and Speymouth.
The Labour statement also said: "Even in this disappointing circumstance, we would again urge you to consider the southern Elgin boundary to ensure that the developments to the south remain contiguous with the town."
