In the Fifth Review the Boundary Commission for England recommended that Norfolk's representation be increased to 9 MPs, with the creation of the constituency of Broadland, based on the District of Broadland wards which had previously comprised a majority of Mid Norfolk, as well as Drayton and Taversham, transferred back from Norwich North. It also included Fakenham and surrounding areas, transferred once again from North Norfolk. Mid Norfolk now comprised the District of Breckland wards in the previous version of the constituency with additional wards, including Watton and Attleborough, transferred from South West Norfolk. Six District of South Norfolk wards, including Wymondham, were transferred from the constituency of South Norfolk. Cringleford and Colney were transferred back from Norwich South to South Norfolk and a small area in the south-west of the constituency of North West Norfolk was transferred to South West Norfolk.
Proposed boundary changes
The Boundary Commission for England submitted their final proposals in respect of the Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies in September 2018. Although the proposals were immediately laid beforeParliament they were not brought forward by the Government for approval. Accordingly, they didnotcome into effect for the 2019 election which took place on 12 December 2019, and which was contested using the constituency boundaries in place since 2010. Under the terms of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, the Sixth Review was based on reducing the total number of MPs from 650 to 600 and a strict electoral parity requirement that the electorate of all constituencies should be within a range of 5% either side of the electoral quota. On 24 March 2020, the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Chloe Smith, issued a written statement to Parliament setting out the Government's thinking with regard to parliamentary boundaries. They propose to bring forward primary legislation to remove the statutory obligation to implement the 2018 Boundary Review recommendations, as well as set the framework for future boundary reviews in time for the next review which is due to begin in early 2021 and report no later than October 2023. It is proposed that the number of constituencies now remains at the current level of 650, rather than being reduced to 600, while retaining the requirement that the electorate should be no more than +/- 5% from the electoral quota.
The number of votes cast for each political party who fielded candidates in constituencies comprising Norfolk in the 2019 general election were as follows:
