SOUTHEND’S political balance is set for a major shakeup with proposed changes to constituency boundaries on the horizon.

The Boundary Commission is undertaking a review of constituencies which will see the number of Parliamentary seats in England increase from 533 to 543 by the end of next year.

Southend West, currently held by Conservative MP Anna Firth, is set for major changes, if the newly revised plans are approved.

An earlier consultation on the changes had considered moving West Leigh ward from Southend West – which has been a Tory seat since its creation in 1950 – into the Castle Point constituency.

However, following backlash from the late Sir David Amess, Ms Firth, councillors, and residents, the plans were dropped.

In its latest report, the commission has opted to keep West Leigh in the constituency – which will be renamed Southend Central and Leigh – with three Labour-leaning city centre wards Milton, Victoria and Kursaal, added to the mix.

Eight of the nine Southend Council seats in those wards are held by Labour councillors.

Eastwood Park, represented on the council by two Lib Dems and one Tory, and St Laurence, which has three Labour councillors, will be moved into the Rochford and Southend East constituency which is represented by Sir James Duddridge MP.

The report states the new constituency name “better reflects both the inclusion of the city centre wards and the distinct and strong community identity of Leigh in the west of the city”.

The publication of the changes marks the opening of a final month-long consultation, giving the public a last opportunity to send in their views before the December 5 deadline.

Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: “Today we are announcing the publication of our revised proposals. Last year we published our initial proposals for new constituency boundaries – our first go at what the map should look like.

“We are delighted with the huge number of comments from members of the public on our initial proposals, many which included valuable evidence about local communities.”

The public is invited to view and comment on the new map at www.bcereviews.org.uk/.