TORY MP David Amess has criticised a proposed shake-up of parliamentary boundaries which could see Leigh moved to the Castle Point seat at the next election.

Mr Amess, who has been Southend West’s MP for 14 years, said the Boundary Commission’s proposal would “tear the heart out of Southend”.

The commission has been tasked by the Government to redraw the country’s political map to reduce the number of MPs in Westminster from 650 to 600 by the next general election.

But Mr Amess said the proposal to move traditional Tory voters in Leigh and West Leigh wards to Castle Point, while the Labour strongholds of Victoria, St Luke’s and Milton are crammed into his constituency from the east, was the wrong solution.

He said: “The effect of this proposal would be to tear the heart out of Southend and it is no wonder that many local residents have been left aghast by it. It would be a tragedy for future generations if these proposals went ahead.”

Mr Amess won his seat in the 2010 general election with a majority of more than 7,200, ahead of Liberal Democrat candidate Peter Welch.

But if he were to lose supporters in Leigh and West Leigh, analysts believe he could find himself embroiled in a three-way battle with Labour and the Lib Dems.

Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend’s Labour group, said: “I’m struggling to find words strong enough for the stupidity of David Amess for claiming he didn't know about this. The manifesto he was elected on says in black and white the Conservatives would reduce the numbers of MPs by ten per cent.”