text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - Clause 9 - Number of MPs
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  @MP voted no to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600
  @MP voted aye to keep the number of MPs at 650, rather than reduce it to 600. 
  
  The majority of MPs voted to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600. 
  
  Clause 9 of the The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill[1][2] contained the "Rules for distribution of seats"; the first rule in the Bill as introduced was:
  
  :''Number of constituencies''
  :The number of constituencies in the United Kingdom shall be 600.
  
  The amendment voted on in this division would have replaced that with:
  :''UK Electoral quota''
  :The UK Electoral Quota shall be defined as the total electorate of the United Kingdom on the designated enumeration day divided by 650.'
  
  During the debate Labour MP Chris Bryant[3] said:
  :The Liberal Democrats mentioned 500 MPs in their manifesto, while the Conservatives had a manifesto commitment to reduce the number of seats by 10%, which would have taken the number down to 585.
  Mr Bryant explained his, and his party's, opposition to the proposed figure of 600 saying:
  :I suspect that bringing the number of seats down to 600 will disproportionately attack Labour seats, while going down to 585 would disproportionately attack Liberal Democrat seats. I therefore suspect that the number of 600 has been arrived at specifically for partisan purposes-to rig the Parliament of this country. That is why we will not support the clause. 
  
  
  * [1] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/063/11063.i-ii.html Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill as introduced] 
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/063/11063.1-7.html Section of Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill as introduced containing p.7 lines 27-28, the location of the relevant section]
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-10-20a.1033.1 Chris Bryant MP, House of Commons, 20th of October 2010]
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  