The Boundary Commission released their proposal for the changing constituencies, with the aim to reduce the number of MPs and better reflect communities - but what does it mean for Barnet?

Chipping Barnet

At present, Chipping Barnet, whose MP is Theresa Villiers, stretches throughout High Barnet, on to Whetstone and also towards Cockfosters and Southgate.

In the commission's original proposal, Chipping Barnet was to gain Mill Hill and Cockfosters wards in a new Chipping Barnet and Mill Hill constituency, with Brunswick Park and Coppetts being lost to a Finchley and Southgate constituency.

Due to opposition to this, instead the proposed Chipping Barnet constituency would lose Coppetts and part of Brunswick Park to the new Finchley and Enfield Southgate constituency, and gain West Finchley and Finchley Churh End from the current Finchley and Golders Green constituency.

Borehamwood Times:

Ms Villiers said of the changes: "I support the plan for the wards which are currently part of the Chipping Barnet constituency.

"I am pleased that the Boundary Commission has listened to resident feedback submitted in the last consultation. In connecting up the town centres that grew along the route of the Dollis Brook and Great North Road, I believe the Commission has found a solution that works for residents."

She added that Coppetts and Cockfosters are back with communities with which they have stronger links, and the splitting of Brunswick Park reflects the reality of the ward, in that part considers itself East Barnet while the rest has stronger links with Southgate.

She added: "Bringing the Church End area of Finchley into the Chipping Barnet constituency would link it with the similar community in Woodside Park, whilst Church End and West Finchley wards are inseparable due to the shared town centre.

"There is a certain logic in joining up the communities which grew up along the historic Dollis Brook, with the route from Church End to High Barnet brought together in the proposed new Chipping Barnet constituency."

Finchley and Golders Green

The current Finchley and Golders Green constituency will be no more if the proposals go through, as a new Finchley and Enfield Southgate constituency will be created in its place.

This will join combine Finchley and Golders Green and Enfield Southgate, while passing off some of the wards to the proposed neighbouring constituencies of Chipping Barnet, Hendon, Hampstead and Enfield.

Borehamwood Times:

Firstly, FES would take on the rest of the Brunswick Park constituency not held by Chipping Barnet, as well as Coppetts ward.

It would then give away five of its wards: West Finchley and Finchley Church End to Chipping Barnet, Golders Green to Hendon, and Garden Suburb and Childs Hill to the new Hampstead constituency.

It would then take on four Enfield borough constituencies: Cockfosters, Southgate, Southgate Green and Winchmore Hill.

This may lead to a fight for its leadership, if both the current Conservative leader, Mike Freer, and Enfield Southgate's Labour leader Bambos Charalambous go head to head.

The proposal has been unpopular with both MPs, with Mr Freer saying: "I continue to oppose the splitting up of the existing parliamentary seat of Finchley and Golders Green.

"Communities with a long history are being divided and whilst equalisation is to be welcomed, this should respect community and geographical ties."

Mr Charalambous echoed Mr Freer's feelings on this, saying the community is being "ripped apart" by the proposal.

He said: "Enfield Southgate is a tight-knit, vibrant community - to rip it apart is just unthinkable and it will not be supported in the area."

Hendon

Borehamwood Times:

This constituency, led by Matthew Offord MP, has had very little change proposed by the Boundary Commission.

The only change that would be seen is the introduction of the Golders Green ward from the current Finchley and Golders Green constituency.

Mr Offord has welcomed this, and said: "Should the proposals go ahead, I would warmly welcome the addition of Golders Green ward to the Hendon constituency.

"The proposals overall aim to decrease the number of MPs and, as a consequence, reduce the cost of Parliament to the taxpayer, which I believe to be the right course of action."

The proposals are currently in a consultation period, meaning residents can give their views before December 11 and any decisions will have to be affirmed by Parliament before being put into place for the next scheduled election in 2022.

Visit www.bce2018.org.uk to give your views.