The Boundary commissions have been conducting a review of all the parliamentary constituencies in the UK. This review is based on rules that Parliament set in 2020 whereby 650 constituencies are retained but with strict parameters regarding the number of electors. Final recommendations were put forward by the commission in the summer and when the next UK General Election takes place it will be on the new boundaries. You can see what happens to your constituency here

This means that Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) are going to be changing the boundaries on which they operate. Interim officers are currently being appointed by the Labour Party. The old CLPs based on the old boundaries will cease to exist from October 11 (the final day of Labour Party Conference), and AGMs based on the new boundaries are required to be held by the end of 2023.

The Co-operative Party affiliates to every single Constituency Labour Party. Affiliations are paid directly to the Labour Party each year by Head Office to reduce administration for local Parties. This will not change, all CLPs will continue to be affiliated to.

The majority of Co-op Party branches do not operate on parliamentary boundaries, often adopting local government or other historic boundaries. There is no expectation that branches should change boundaries at this stage. Any changes to branch boundaries will be considered at this stage only on a case by case basis, with the expectation that most branches will remain on the same boundaries until after the General Election when the position can be reviewed.

If you are currently a delegate to a CLP you will remain the delegate to that CLP for the length of time the CLP exists.

Delegates can only participate and be delegated to the constituency in which they live.

If your constituency is unaffected by changes there will be no impact on the delegation. Branches can check how their delegates are impacted by using this tool.

Branches are expected to take a common sense approach to updating their delegations. For example when the branch is next due to meet include an agenda item on CLP delegations to ensure that all CLPs are receiving a delegation, and any updates necessary due to the changing of boundaries take place.

It is important that branches advise us of who their delegates are. This can be done quickly and simply here.

If no branch meeting is due to take place prior to the CLP AGM delegates will rollover for the seat in which they now live. Any vacancies will be held open until the next branch meeting.

If you want advice on holding a meeting, contact your organiser.

The branch is able to nominate delegates to all the CLPs within its geography.

Delegations will be agreed by each branch on a pro rata basis – i.e. if most of the CLP is covered by branch X and a smaller portion by branch Y, branch X will send the bulk of the delegation and branch Y the remainder. Your Organiser will be able to support your branch if this is the case.