Replacing double sockets

[bkw]

Evening all

I have bought a bunch of new brushed steel double sockets to replace all the old MK white sockets through out the house. After wiring in about five of them I noticed that the terminals on the back of the new socket are the other way round to the old ones, often making stretching the exposed cables to the relevant terminal quite difficult. There earth and neutral and on the right hand side. I would have thought that all UK sockets would have terminals on the same side. Does anyone know what the form is on this. And what can be done if there is not enough exposed cable to run across the back of the new sockets? Can extra wire be soldered on and wrapped in tape?
Cheers

 

[luminaire]

It can be soldered, but you'd need to use shrink fit sleeving of the appropriate colour to protect it.

 

[bkw]

Thanks for that. Is is usual for sockets to be either "left" or "right" handed? I would have thought there would have been an industry standard to prevent this problem.

BKW

 

[luminaire]

There is in some countries but not here I'm afraid.