A FIERCE row has broken out between the national Conservative party and local Tory activists over constituency boundary changes.

The Boundary Commission has recommended the Castle Point parliamentary constituency should take two wards from Southend West – Leigh and Leigh West – under new proposals.

Tory councillors across Hadleigh, Benfleet and Thundersley and members of the Castle Point Conservative Association support the idea.

This is because Leigh is a traditionally Tory voting area, so this would help Conservative MP Rebecca Harris retain her seat at the next election.

However, the national party has appealed against the boundary changes and requested the Leigh wards stay in Southend West, with Castle Point taking on Pitsea South East ward from Basildon instead.

The Echo has been told by a reliable source this has caused a fierce row.

Vera Partridge, chairman of the Castle Point Conservative Assoc-iation, refused to confirm any details about the dispute.

However, she said: “I would personally prefer to go with the Boundary Commission’s recommendations.

“There are natural links between Castle Point and Leigh, but that would not be the case between us and Pitsea.”

Norman Ladzrie, Tory councillor for St James’ ward, in Hadleigh, added: “West Leigh is adjacent to Castle Point. It is a natural extension of my ward.

“The residents in Leigh and Castle Point have a lot in common, but there is a much larger distance between our borough and Pitsea.”

It is understood the national party wants to keep the Leigh wards in Southend West, because of concerns MP David Amess could lose thousands of loyal Tory voters, leaving him exposed to a challenge for his seat from Labour or the Liberal Democrats.

The Boundary Commission is a politically independent organisation, which alters constituency boundaries to allow for changes in population.