# Fourth periodic review of Westminster constituencies

The fourth periodic review of Westminster constituencies was undertaken in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1995 by the four boundary commissions. As well as changes to constituency boundaries, the reviews recommended an increase of five seats in England (524 to 529), two in Wales (38 to 40) and one in Northern Ireland (17 to 18), with Scotland continuing to have 72 seats. The number of MPs in the House of Commons therefore increased from 651 to 659. 144 new constituencies were created, offset by 136 which were abolished. The new boundaries were first used for the 1997 general election.

## Review process

Under the terms of the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as enacted, the boundary commissions were required to present their final recommendations between 10 and 15 years after the submission of their previous reports. As the final reports for the third periodic review had been submitted between October 1982 and February 1983, the final reports for the fourth review were due to be submitted no later than February 1998. Accordingly, the English Commission had commenced their review in February 1991 and the Scottish commission had commenced theirs in February 1992. In the meantime, reflecting concerns that the period between reviews was too long, the Government proposed that the gap between reviews should be reduced to between 8 and 12 years and that the deadline for the fourth review should be brought forward to 31 December 1994. This was legislated through the Boundary Commissions Act 1992.
The final reports were submitted as follows:
* Scotland - 15 December 1994
* Wales - 16 December 1994
* England - 12 April 1995
* Northern Ireland - 20 June 1995

## Changes

As a result of changes to the names of seats, it is not always easy to clearly identify newly created constituencies or those abolished during the review process. One way of considering this is to link each proposed seat with an existing seat which contributes the most voters to that new seat. Any proposed seat which cannot be linked to an existing seat is then considered to be a "new" constituency. Conversely, any existing seat which is not linked to a proposed seat is considered to have been abolished.
The tables below list the names of existing seats which were not replicated in the final proposals for the fourth review ("old seats"), and links them with proposed seats which did not exist prior to the review ("new seats"). Those seats which are not linked can be regarded as being genuinely abolished or newly created. There are a number of instances where existing seats are effectively abolished and re-created under the same name, as set out in the notes.

### England

The number of seats in England increased by five. 19 non-metropolitan counties gained one seat each, with Hampshire gaining two. This was offset by a reduction of ten seats in Greater London, two each in Greater Manchester and West Midlands, and one each in Lancashire and Merseyside.
In Greater London, the Commission, for the first time, decided to pair some London Boroughs together to reduce the variation in the size of electorates. These are detailed in the table below.
| County | No. of seats | No. of seats | Old seat | New seat | Notes |
| County | Before | After | Old seat | New seat | Notes |
| Avon | 10 | 10 | | | |
| Bedfordshire | 5 | 6 | Bedfordshire North | Bedford | |
| Bedfordshire | 5 | 6 | | Bedfordshire North East | Comprised the largest part of the existing Bedfordshire Mid seat, which was reconfigured and effectively formed a new constituency. |
| Berkshire | 7 | 8 | Berkshire East | Bracknell | |
| Berkshire | 7 | 8 | Windsor and Maidenhead | Maidenhead | |
| Berkshire | 7 | 8 | | Windsor | |
| Buckinghamshire | 7 | 7 | | | |
| Cambridgeshire | 6 | 7 | | Cambridgeshire North West | |
| Cambridgeshire | 6 | 7 | Cambridgeshire South West | Cambridgeshire South | |
| Cheshire | 10 | 11 | | Weaver Vale | |
| Cleveland | 6 | 6 | Langbaurgh | Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East | |
| Cornwall | 5 | 5 | Truro | Truro and St Austell | Name change only. |
| Cumbria | 6 | 6 | | | |
| Derbyshire | 10 | 10 | | | |
| Devon | 11 | 11 | Honiton | Devon East | |
| Devon | 11 | 11 | Plymouth Drake | | Plymouth, Drake was absorbed into Plymouth Sutton, with the bulk of that seat now forming the majority of the new seat of Devon South West. |
| Devon | 11 | 11 | | Devon South West | Plymouth, Drake was absorbed into Plymouth Sutton, with the bulk of that seat now forming the majority of the new seat of Devon South West. |
| Devon | 11 | 11 | South Hams | Totnes | |
| Devon | 11 | 11 | Tiverton | Tiverton and Honiton | |
| Dorset | 7 | 8 | | Dorset Mid and Poole North | |
| Durham | 7 | 7 | | | |
| East Sussex | 8 | 8 | | | |
| Essex | 16 | 17 | | Essex North | Major reconfiguration. |
| Essex | 16 | 17 | Colchester North | Colchester | Major reconfiguration. |
| Essex | 16 | 17 | Colchester South and Maldon | Maldon and Chelmsford East | Major reconfiguration. |
| Essex | 16 | 17 | Chelmsford | Chelmsford West | |
| Essex | 16 | 17 | Rochford | Rayleigh | |
| Essex | 16 | 17 | Southend East | Rochford and Southend East | |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 6 | Cirencester and Tewksbury | Cotswold | |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 6 | | Tewkesbury | |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 6 | Gloucestershire West | Forest of Dean | |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Hendon North | Hendon | London borough of Barnet |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Hendon South | | London borough of Barnet |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Finchley | Finchley and Golders Green | London borough of Barnet |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Greenwich | Greenwich and Woolwich | London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Woolwich | | London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Erith and Crayford | Erith and Thamesmead | London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Bexleyheath | Bexleyheath and Crayford | London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Chislehurst | Bromley and Chislehurst | London borough of Bromley |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Ravensbourne | | London borough of Bromley |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Croydon North East | | London borough of Croydon |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Croydon North West | Croydon North | London borough of Croydon |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Ealing Acton | Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush | London boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Hammersmith | | London boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Fulham | Hammersmith and Fulham | London boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | City of London and Westminster South | Cities of London and Westminster | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Cities of London and Westminster |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Westminster North | Regent's Park and Kensington North | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Cities of London and Westminster |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Kensington | | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Cities of London and Westminster |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Chelsea | Kensington and Chelsea | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Cities of London and Westminster |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Richmond and Barnes | Richmond Park | Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and borough of Richmond upon Thames |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Kingston upon Thames | | Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and borough of Richmond upon Thames |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Surbiton | Kingston and Surbiton | Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and borough of Richmond upon Thames |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Southwark and Bermondsey | North Southwark and Bermondsey | London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Peckham | Camberwell and Peckham | London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Dulwich | Dulwich and West Norwood | London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Norwood | | London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Bethnal Green and Stepney | Bethnal Green and Bow | London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Bow and Poplar | Poplar and Canning Town | London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Newham South | | London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Newham North East | East Ham | London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Newham North West | West Ham | London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Chingford | Chingford and Woodford Green | London boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Wanstead and Woodford | | London boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest |
| Greater London | 84 | 74 | Leyton | Leyton and Wanstead | London boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Stretford | | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Davyhulme | Stretford and Urmston | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Altrincham and Sale | Altrincham and Sale West | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Manchester, Wythenshawe | Wythenshawe and Sale East | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Littleborough and Saddleworth | Oldham East and Saddleworth | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Oldham Central and Royton | Oldham West and Royton | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Oldham West | | |
| Greater Manchester | 30 | 28 | Salford East | Salford | |
| Hampshire | 15 | 17 | | Hampshire North East | Comprised the majority of the existing Hampshire East seat, which was reconfigured and effectively formed a new constituency. |
| Hampshire | 15 | 17 | New Forest | New Forest West | |
| Hampshire | 15 | 17 | | New Forest East | |
| Hampshire | 15 | 17 | Romsey and Waterside | Romsey | |
| Hereford and Worcester | 7 | 8 | | Redditch | Comprised the majority of the existing Worcestershire Mid seat, which was reconfigured and effectively formed a new constituency. |
| Hereford and Worcester | 7 | 8 | Worcestershire South | Worcestershire West | |
| Hertfordshire | 10 | 11 | Hertfordshire North | Hertfordshire North East | |
| Hertfordshire | 10 | 11 | | Hitchin and Harpenden | |
| Hertfordshire | 10 | 11 | Hertfordshire West | Hemel Hempstead | |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | Kingston upon Hull West | Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle | |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | Bridlington | Yorkshire East | Major reconfiguration |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | | Beverley and Holderness | Major reconfiguration |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | Beverley | Haltemprice and Howdon | Major reconfiguration |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | Boothferry | Brigg and Goole | Major reconfiguration |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | Glanford and Scunthorpe | Scunthorpe | |
| Humberside | 9 | 10 | Brigg and Cleethorpes | Cleethorpes | |
| Isle of Wight | 1 | 1 | | | |
| Kent | 16 | 17 | Faversham | Sittingbourne and Sheppey | |
| Kent | 16 | 17 | | Faversham and Kent Mid | |
| Kent | 16 | 17 | Kent Mid | Chatham and Aylesford | |
| Kent | 16 | 17 | Maidstone | Maidstone and The Weald | |
| Lancashire | 16 | 15 | Lancaster | Lancaster and Wyre | |
| Lancashire | 16 | 15 | Wyre | | |
| Lancashire | 16 | 15 | Blackpool North | Blackpool North and Fleetwood | |
| Leicestershire | 9 | 10 | | Charnwood | |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 7 | Gainsborough and Horncastle | Gainsborough | |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 7 | Lindsey East | Louth and Horncastle | |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 7 | Holland with Boston | Boston and Skegness | |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 7 | Stamford and Spalding | South Holland and The Deepings | |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 7 | | Grantham and Stamford | |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 7 | Grantham | Sleaford and North Hykeham | |
| Merseyside | 17 | 16 | Knowsley North | Knowsley North and Sefton East | |
| Merseyside | 17 | 16 | Liverpool Broadgreen | Liverpool Wavertree | |
| Merseyside | 17 | 16 | Liverpool Mossley Hill | | |
| Norfolk | 8 | 8 | | | |
| North Yorkshire | 6 | 7 | Harrogate | Harrogate and Knaresborough | |
| North Yorkshire | 6 | 7 | | Vale of York | |
| North Yorkshire | 6 | 7 | York | City of York | Name change only |
| North Yorkshire | 6 | 7 | Scarborough | Scarborough and Whitby | Name change only |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 6 | | | |
| Northumberland | 4 | 4 | | | |
| Nottinghamshire | 11 | 11 | | | |
| Oxfordshire | 6 | 6 | | | |
| Shropshire | 4 | 5 | | Telford | Comprised the majority of the existing The Wrekin seat, which was reconfigured and effectively formed a new constituency. |
| Somerset | 5 | 5 | | | |
| South Yorkshire | 15 | 15 | Barnsley East | Barnsley East and Mexborough | |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 12 | | Stone | Major reconfiguration |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 12 | Staffordshire Mid | Lichfield | Major reconfiguration |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 12 | Cannock and Burntwood | Cannock Chase | |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 12 | Staffordshire South East | Tamworth | |
| Suffolk | 6 | 7 | Suffolk Central | Suffolk Central and Ipswich North | |
| Suffolk | 6 | 7 | | Suffolk West | Comprised the majority of the existing Bury St Edmunds seat, which was reconfigured and effectively formed a new constituency. |
| Surrey | 11 | 11 | Surrey North West | Surrey Heath | |
| Surrey | 11 | 11 | Chertsey and Walton | Runnymede and Weybridge | |
| Surrey | 11 | 11 | Esher | Esher and Walton | |
| Tyne and Wear | 13 | 13 | Wallsend | Tyneside North | |
| Tyne and Wear | 13 | 13 | Newcastle upon Tyne East | Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend | |
| Tyne and Wear | 13 | 13 | Gateshead East | Gateshead East and Washington West | |
| Tyne and Wear | 13 | 13 | Houghton and Washington | Houghton and Washington East | |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 5 | | | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Dudley East | Dudley North | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Dudley West | Dudley South | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Halesowen and Stourbridge | Stourbridge | Electorate of Halesowen and Stourbridge distributed more-or-less equally between two new constituencies. |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Halesowen and Stourbridge | Halesowen and Rowley Regis | Electorate of Halesowen and Stourbridge distributed more-or-less equally between two new constituencies. |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Warley West | | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Warley East | Warley | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Birmingham, Small Heath | | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Birmingham, Sparkbrook | Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Coventry South East | Coventry South | |
| West Midlands | 31 | 29 | Coventry South West | | |
| West Sussex | 7 | 8 | Arundel | Bognor Regis and Littlehampton | |
| West Sussex | 7 | 8 | | Arundel and South Downs | |
| West Sussex | 7 | 8 | Shoreham | Worthing East and Shoreham | |
| West Sussex | 7 | 8 | Worthing | Worthing West | |
| West Yorkshire | 23 | 23 | Morley and Leeds South | Morley and Rothwell | |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 6 | | Swindon North | |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 6 | Swindon | Swindon South | |

### Wales

The number of seats in Wales was increased from 38 to 40 through the creation of an additional seat in the counties of Clwyd and Dyfed.
| County | No of seats | No of seats | Old seat | New seat |
| County | Before | After | Old seat | New seat |
| Clwyd | 5 | 6 | Clwyd North West | Clwyd West |
| Clwyd | 5 | 6 | | Vale of Clwyd |
| Clwyd | 5 | 6 | Clwyd South West | Clwyd South |
| Dyfed | 4 | 5 | Ceredigion and Pembroke North | Ceredigion |
| Dyfed | 4 | 5 | Pembroke | Preseli Pembrokeshire |
| Dyfed | 4 | 5 | | Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire |
| Dyfed | 4 | 5 | Carmarthen | Carmarthen East and Dinefwr |
| Gwent | 6 | 6 | | |
| Gwynedd | 4 | 4 | | |
| Mid Glamorgan | 7 | 7 | | |
| Powys | 2 | 2 | | |
| South Glamorgan | 5 | 5 | | |
| West Glamorgan | 5 | 5 | | |

### Scotland

The number of seats in Scotland remained at 72, with an additional seat in Grampian region being offset by the loss of a seat in the City of Glasgow in Strathclyde region.
| Region | No of seats | No of seats | Old seat | New seat |
| Region | Before | After | Old seat | New seat |
| Borders | 2 | 2 | | |
| Central | 4 | 4 | Clackmannan | Ochil |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 2 | 2 | | |
| Fife | 5 | 5 | | |
| Grampian | 6 | 7 | | Aberdeen Central |
| Grampian | 6 | 7 | Kincardine and Deeside | Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine |
| Highland | 3 | 3 | Caithness and Sutherland | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
| Highland | 3 | 3 | Ross, Cromarty and Skye | Ross, Skye and Inverness West |
| Highland | 3 | 3 | Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber | Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber |
| Lothian | 10 | 10 | Edinburgh East | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Lothian | 10 | 10 | Edinburgh, Leith | Edinburgh North and Leith |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Monklands East | Airdrie and Shotts |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Monklands West | Coatbridge and Chryston |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Motherwell North | Hamilton North and Bellshill |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Motherwell South | Motherwell and Wishaw |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Hamilton | Hamilton South |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Greenock and Port Glasgow | Greenock and Inverclyde |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Renfrew West and Inverclyde | Renfrewshire West |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Glasgow Garscadden | Glasgow Anniesland |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Glasgow Hillhead | Glasgow Kelvin |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Glasgow Central | |
| Strathclyde | 33 | 32 | Glasgow Provan | Glasgow Baillieston |
| Tayside | 5 | 5 | Angus East | Angus |
| Tayside | 5 | 5 | Perth and Kinross | Perth |
| Islands Areas | 2 | 2 | | |

### Northern Ireland

The number of seats in Northern Ireland was increased from 17 to 18 through the creation of West Tyrone. This comprised the majority of the existing Mid Ulster seat, which was reconfigured and effectively formed a new constituency.