Francie Molloy: Revised NI electoral map 'attempt to gerrymander boundaries' to placate DUP

Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy has said a revised electoral boundary map for Northern Ireland obtained by the Press Association would amount to government gerrymander to placate the DUP.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jan 2018, 17:46 BST
Updated 17th Jan 2018, 17:52 BST
Sinn Fein's Francie MolloySinn Fein's Francie Molloy
Sinn Fein's Francie Molloy

"The Boundary Commission proposed and consulted on new electoral boundaries in 2016 as part of an overall plan to reduce the number of MPs here from 18 to 17," he said.

"Unsurprisingly, the DUP rejected the plan despite the fact that the proposals reflected the terms and remit under which the Boundary Commission was established.

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"Sinn Fein warned at the time that any attempt via the Tory-DUP pact to subvert this process would represent an anti-democratic attempt to gerrymander electoral boundaries in that party's favour.

The revised proposal for the electoral boundaries in Northern Ireland which has been significantly altered, with Belfast now set to retain its four seats, according to an official map obtained by the Press AssociationThe revised proposal for the electoral boundaries in Northern Ireland which has been significantly altered, with Belfast now set to retain its four seats, according to an official map obtained by the Press Association
The revised proposal for the electoral boundaries in Northern Ireland which has been significantly altered, with Belfast now set to retain its four seats, according to an official map obtained by the Press Association

"These new proposals will also impact upon electoral boundaries for Assembly elections, ensuring gerrymandered constituencies reminiscent of those drawn up by the unionist one-party state decades ago.

"The Boundary Commission should immediately clarify whether the media reports of the amended proposals are accurate because, if they are, it would mean that the Tories have again acquiesced to the DUP's anti-democratic agenda, just as they have done on issues such as equal marriage, the Irish Language and legacy inquests.

"That is entirely unacceptable and further evidence of the British Government's ongoing refusal to act in an impartial manner as they are obliged to under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement."

Related topics:DUPSinn FeinMPs