Lines in the Sand
Changes to the UK’s political map and implications for the voice of communities.
by Michael Woods
Lines in the Sand
The UK's political map is under review. The next general election is less than two years away. When it takes place, parliamentary constituencies are likely going to change, some significantly. This is the case in my hometown of Southport, at least in my view. As I discovered, in Southport and elsewhere, the news isn't reaching everyone. Are communities being left out in shaping themselves and their future?
​
In my three part story which forms the central part of the Lines in the Sands project, I attempt to answer this question.
In the first part of Lines in the Sand, I recount what I’ve discovered about why the changes are happening and the response to the review in my hometown.
In the second, I describe what I discovered by exploring local boundary change history and by visiting key locations in and around my hometown.
In the third part, I look at local news decline, including what it means for democracy and community engagement in political boundary reviews. In this final chapter, I also explore what the future might hold.
OTHER ACTIVITY
Would you like another way to learn more about the parliamentary changes? If so, please check out the options below.
Podcast: Voices Unheard: The Boundaries of Democracy
This is a trailer for my new podcast series, "Voices Unheard: The Boundaries of Democracy." In the series, I'll be exploring the impact of political decisions on local communities in the UK and how these decisions shape people's lives. I'll start with my story of the parliamentary changes in Southport.
