Is the sexual orientation of a judge relevent?

Eloethan I don't often disagree with you, but, when you say that many people think that we will be awash with money, I find the opposite.
Many people I know expect us to have a rough ride for a while. But hey, you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs

But just as an aside Brownhills is not a part of the Black country. It is between Cannock and the City of Lichfield.
I'm sure you know that Jalima but others on GN may not

Yes, I thought it wasn't, and it's a very nice area - but when I checked to see if it was in the Black Country the site(s) I checked said it was
Apologies if it is not!
The term Black Country is disputed anyway, either named because of the industries in the area or because the ground was black - because of the coalmining in the area.

According to the Birmingham Post in 2011 in an article on constituency changes in 'The Black Country':
The smallest constituency in the region is Aldridge-Brownhills, represented since 1979 by independent-minded Conservative Richard Shepherd, with just 59,506 voters, according to the Boundary Commission for England.

Most people would be unaware that the figure of 88,000 was incorrect
But surely not - I would have thought that most people would know that any constituency averages about 60-70,000!

People aren't that daft.
And if they are that daft they would not be listening or reading about it or it would go over the top of their head.

Exactly Petra my thoughts too.

TBH Jalima it is only the planned boundary changes that alerted me to the size of an average constituency. Ours is currently a bit smaller than average at 70K and therefore would be forced to expand. Of course that includes the under 18s...
Seems to indicate that PM does not read her PMQ answers until the last minute.
For anyone worried about the boundary changes - a chink of light. There was a private members bill to put a stop to the process yesterday and he government was defeated very heavily - so unlike most PMBs it will progress to the next stage.
PM has ditched a few of Cameron's policies - I wonder if she will do so with this one? Apparently it will cost a fortune.

and therefore would be forced to expand.
so would they take a bit off the next constituency - which could have a knock-on effect, or encourage people to move there, have more babies?

It was from an old report in the Birmingham Post when the boundary changes were first proposed.

It just seems like a waste of money to me.

Of course the proposed boundary changes will be strongly challenged, as they would be to the Conservative party's advantage. The same would apply if the boot was on the other foot.

Lots and lots of conservatives voted against the government last night. 257 to 37 was the vote.
Unusual turnout for a PMB i would think!

The government defeat does not seem to have been reported by the media anywhere that I can find.

Like you, Jess, I'd never thought about the size of a constituency until the boundaries were mentioned.
Strangely enough, neither had Theresa May or she wouldn't have read out those figures.

This is how it was reported in the Independent, Jess.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boundary-review-650-600-mps-cut-bill-pat-glass-momentum-a7425021.html

My MP put forward the PMB.