Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Lord Swinfen Excerpts

Tuesday 25th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Dixon]

There is a rivalry. There are the makems and the takems. I am a Sunderland supporter. Those on the north side of the river are Newcastle supporters.

I hope that the Government do not take the amendment lightly. They should accept this simple, important amendment that constituency boundaries should not cross the River Tyne.

[Lord Swinfen]

In the first part of his speech, the noble Lord, Lord Dixon, pointed out that the River Tyne brought work to both sides of the river. That is exactly the same with the Thames. The river is therefore a unifying force within the constituency and is not divisive at all.