What is a constituency?

A constituency is a geographical area that elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons. The UK is divided into 650 constituencies, each with roughly the same number of voters. The MP represents everyone who lives there, whether or not they voted for them.

Boundaries are set by four independent Boundary Commissions, one for each nation of the UK. The latest review took effect at the 2024 general election. Most constituencies had to have between 69,724 and 77,062 registered voters. England has 543 seats, Scotland 57, Wales 32 and Northern Ireland 18. Scotland and Wales lost seats in the review, while England gained ten.

A few island seats are protected because of their geography. These are Orkney and Shetland, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Ynys Môn and two seats on the Isle of Wight. Boundaries are reviewed regularly so that seats stay roughly equal in size as populations move. Changes can be controversial, because they can shift the political balance of an area. Reviews happen every eight years.

MPs hold surgeries where constituents can raise problems, from housing and benefits to immigration cases. They write to ministers on residents' behalf and speak for local interests in debates. Constituencies are also called seats or divisions. The Scottish Parliament and Senedd use their own constituencies, which have different boundaries. Some MPs represent huge rural areas, while others cover a few city streets.