Constituency boundary changes: is the government delaying due to "exceptional circumstances"?

[muriel_volestrangler]

Last edited Wed Nov 8, 2023, 08:37 AM - Edit history (1)

Parliamentary constituency boundaries will change at the next UK general election. The four Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland published their final recommendations in late June 2023 following three rounds of public consultation.
...
There is no formal parliamentary stage or vote on the final recommendations and Parliament is unable to amend them.

The Government must now draw up a single draft Order in Council to implement the recommendations. Orders in Council are Orders that have been approved at a meeting of the Privy Council personally by the King.

The Government must submit the draft Order to the Privy Council for approval “as soon as reasonably practicable”. The legislation states this must be no later than four months after the final reports have been laid in Parliament unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The draft Order must contain the final recommendations of the Boundary Commissions. The Government cannot make changes.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/boundary-review-2023-which-seats-will-change/

So, it's now more than 4 months after the end of June, and all they had to do was draw up the Order. There was nothing to debate or amend, so it's just paperwork, yes? But there's no sign that such an Order has been approved. You'd think that some part of the media, or the government itself, would put something on the internet saying "yes, these changes are official". All I can find is an anonymous addition to Wikipedia:

(This deadline was missed by the government, which, according to the Act, must only happen in exceptional circumstances).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Periodic_Review_of_Westminster_constituencies#Commencement_of_reviews

I've searched legislation.gov.uk, and privycouncil.independent.gov.uk ("independent"? Hah!), and can't see anything.

Is this just poor information provision, typical incompetence, or are they pulling a fast one for some unknown reason?

On edit: it seems a combination of lack of communication, and leaving everything to the last possible minute. I emailed the Boundary Commission for England, and they replied:

"The Order in Council was made and submitted to the Privy Council within the statutory deadline, on 27 October.

It will be considered at the next meeting of the Privy Council where it will receive Royal Assent. No date has yet been communicated as to when the next meeting of the Privy Council will be."