ESSEX MPs have given their reactions to changes to their constituencies in the wake of the Boundary Commissions plans. The EADT revealed yesterdaythat voters in Clacton and Braintree will gain their own MPs following the redrawn election map to give the county an extra seat after the next General Election because of the population expansion in southern areas.

ESSEX MPs have given their reactions to changes to their constituencies in the wake of the Boundary Commissions plans.

The EADT revealed yesterdaythat voters in Clacton and Braintree will gain their own MPs following the redrawn election map to give the county an extra seat after the next General Election because of the population expansion in southern areas.

Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP for the North Essex seat, which will become Harwich and North Essex, said the changes across the map would be devastating for Labour.

He said: "I am pleased that they have accepted the new constituency should be called Harwich and North Essex which will ring much truer with people in places like Mersea, Dedham and Wakes Colne.

"The changes are broadly neutral for me, but splitting Harwich and Clacton will be devastating for Labour, as well as the other big change of splitting Braintree from Witham."

Ivan Henderson, the Labour MP for Harwich will lose Clacton from his constituency, as it becomes Harwich and North Essex.

He said: "The next General Election will be fought on the existing boundaries and I am not looking beyond that election.

Bob Russell, Colchester's Liberal Democrat MP, said: "It is disappointing for any MP to lose part of his constituency, in this case Stanway, but I will continue to represent them throughout this parliament and should I be re-elected, I will continue to do so right up to the election after next.

Alan Hurst, the Labour MP for Braintree which will lose Witham under the changes, said:"It is possible we can win both seats actually, I don't know what these other places are like but there will be very active Labour canvassing from the end of the next election.

Simon Burns, the Conservative MP for West Chelmsford, which will be split between a new Chelmsford seat, Saffron Walden and Maldon, said that overall he would never have proposed the boundary changes, but remained "confident" that when the new Chelmsford seat was in place, it would be a Conservative held one.