STV for Berkshire
I really must try to get more readers for this important(?) work!
But as I say that, we do have one present who was a candidate in 2024 in this area. His comments are welcome!
Anyway, writing up my Berkshire ideas is an easier undertaking than it was for Hampshire. Berkshire is of those counties that are called ceremonial - they still exists as ideas but long ago stopped to be a political entity at local level. The Boundaries commission still uses them to divide up the country.
At the London end of Berkshire, the growth of communities as the Capital spread out didn’t always match county boundaries and the boundaries for both counties and constituencies don’t always follow the road and rail routes.
This particularly effects Windsor constituency, which ‘borrows’ a slither of Surrey around Virginia Water, which does at least mean Ascot and Windsor itself, both in Old Berkshire, are joined by roads in the constituency. Otherwise Windsor Great Park gets in the way
Berkshire East (To elect 4 MPs covering the constituencies of Bracknell; Maidenhead; Slough; Windsor)
Reading and Berkshire West (To elect 4 Earley and Woodley; Newbury; Reading Central; Reading West and Mid Berkshire; Wokingham )
Geography
However it’s defined, whatever is included, Berkshire returns 9 MPs to Parliament. Given my preference for 4 and 5 member STV constituencies, that means splitting the area into just two parts.
The neatest line leaves 4 MPs to be elected in the East and 5 in the West. Its not just a neater line but it divides Reading and its environs from the mediums sized places nearer London. Reading West now includes a ‘Mid Berkshire’ section which is part of the rural West half of the county, and so Newbury fits in with that.
Politics
Berkshire was another area of Conservative collapse, going from 7 MPs to 1. The six seats they lost were in equal numbers to Labour and the Lib Dems.
Perhaps their most iconic loss here was Maidenhead as it had been the base for one of their more recent leaders, Theresa May - Though ‘more recent’ is relative for a party that changed its leaders with the seasons, and to be fair the loss here wasn’t as dramatic as Liz Truss in Norfolk. Not the same candidate, not quite the same swing. In fact, The Lib Dems has got close to May once before.
The one seat the Tories held was Windsor; Their vote was only reduced by a third and the opposition was divided.
Berkshire was an area of relative failure for Reform UK; They were generally below their national average and in one constituency failed to stand a candidate.
In my East, I can see the three larger parties electing an MP each, with the fourth going to the wire between the big two. Slough would have been an easy hold for Labour, but an independent got close. The Conservatives still have enough votes for at least 1 MP outside of Slough. The Lib Dem vote in Maidenhead together with the 20% in Windsor should see them with enough support for one.
In the West side of the county, Labour’s support in and around Reading should guarantee them 2 MPs out of the 5. The Lib Dem vote that saw them gain 2 MPs here would certainly be enough for 1 under STV but they would be dependent on transfers to get a second. The Conservative vote is still here and across the 5 constituent parts, there is enough vote for 1 MP even on the 2024 result - Reading and West Berkshire is a place they would benefit from STV. The fifth MP here would certainly be up for grabs
Not seen your area covered yet?
Subscribe for free and I’ll get to you soon
Return to the Menu Page
I never knew Mike Oldfield was from Reading - perhaps I always assumed he was from Portsmouth