Final plans for two new voting constituencies, Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight West, have been unveiled at the start of a final consultation before a decision is made.

As previously reported by the Isle of Wight County Press, the Island will almost certainly have two MPs at the next general election.

The Boundary Commission is delivering plans for a country-wide shake-up, designed to make the areas represented by a single MP more equal, with no fewer than 69,724 electors and no more than 77,062.

England's largest constituency, the Isle of Wight, gets an exception and instead, there will be two smaller areas, themselves roughly balanced.

Isle of Wight County Press: The proposed Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight West.The proposed Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight West. (Image: Boundary Commission.)

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When the idea was first unveiled, around a decade ago, it was proposed part of the Island would be included in a constituency with part of Portsmouth - prompting huge outcry.

Now, a split down the middle is almost guaranteed - with consultation ongoing about where the border will lie.

Under plans revealed today (Tuesday), East Cowes and Fairlee and Whippingham will be part of Isle of Wight West, so East Cowes and Cowes are not divided.

Newport will also fall into that constituency.

In Isle of Wight East, you would find Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey, as well as Ventnor and St Lawrence, and Wroxall, Lowtherville & Bonchurch.

Current Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, had called for Ventnor and St Lawrence to remain part of the west.

Isle of Wight County Press: Left, the full proposed boundary. Centre, close up of the top half, to Newchurch. Right, close up of the bottom half, to Underclifff.Left, the full proposed boundary. Centre, close up of the top half, to Newchurch. Right, close up of the bottom half, to Underclifff. (Image: Boundary Commission.)

A north/south divide, proposed by Labour, was not popular, said the Boundary Commission.

'Widespread dissatisfaction' with the names East Wight and West Wight, led to a rethink. Almost all those who commented preferred the Island's name to be used in full - now Isle of Wight East and Isle of Wight West.

What happens to the Isle of Wight's voting constituency plans next?

This final consultation closes on December 5 and the Boundary Commission will form its final recommendations.

The plan will be submitted to Parliament by July 1, 2023. 

Across the country, there will 650 constituencies.

'Months of analysis'

Speaking on the national plans, Tim Bowden, Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: "Today’s publication is the culmination of months of analysis and we have revised nearly half of our initial proposals based on what people have told us.

"We now believe we are close to the best map of constituencies that can be achieved under the rules we are working to.

"We still want people to tell us what they think of this latest map before we submit our final recommendations to Parliament next year."