Jeremy Corbyn could become a Hackney MP under proposed boundary changes – but may have to fight for the seat with his pal Diane Abbott.
Both of the borough’s constituencies will be dissolved, leaving the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP with no obvious stronghold.
Five of Ms Abbott’s wards – Cazenove, Hackney Downs, Lea Bridge, Shacklewell and Springfield – will go to the revived Hackney Central seat, with five more – Brownswood, Clissold, Stamford Hill West, Stoke Newington and Woodberry Down – being consumed by the creation of Finsbury Park and Stoke Newington.
That would also include five wards from Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North patch, which is also being scrapped, though the prospect of Ms Abbott competing against her leader for the seat is unlikely given her unwavering support for him.
Should Mr Corbyn run for Islington North and Stoke Newington, he would also be tasked with winning the support of some of Stamford Hill’s Jewish community, which would be split between two constituencies.
An alternative for Ms Abbott could be to run for Hackney Central, potentially against Meg Hillier, whose current area, Hackney South and Shoreditch, would also go in the changes.
Five of Ms Hillier’s wards – Hackney Central, Hackney Wick, Homerton, King’s Park and Victoria – would complete the Hackney Central constituency, with the other five – De Beauvoir, Haggerston, London Fields, Hoxton and Shoreditch – contributing to the new Hackney West and Bethnal Green patch, which would also include Ms Abbott’s Dalston.
Should she instead run for that seat, Ms Hillier could have a battle on her hands, as it contains almost half of Rushanara Ali’s existing seat, Bethnal Green and Bow.
The Hackney Central constituency was created in 1885 and abolished in 1950, before being brought back five years later and again scrapped in 1983.
Labour’s candidate for the vacant Hackney mayoral seat, Cllr Philip Glanville, branded the plans “disgraceful” last night.
The Boundary Commission has been tasked by Parliament to create equal-sized seats by reducing the number of constituencies from 650 to 600. Under the proposals, each seat would have between 71,031 and 78,507 electors.
Both Ms Abbott and Ms Hillier have been approached for comment.
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