Created for the 2010 General Election from parts of Colchester, Braintree and Maldon, Witham’s Tory MP Priti Patel has a 15,196 majority.
If voters do return the high-flying Treasury minister- and if the Tories can form a government- she is tipped for a Cabinet post.
Ms Patel is the clear favourite, but there is a nascent threat from Ukip, which is targeting other seats in Essex in Castle Point, East Thurrock, Basildon and Clacton.
Its candidate, Garry Cockrill, was once the party’s south Essex chairman and stood for Southend West at the last election, so he is a local big hitter.
Labour’s John Clarke cannot be entirely discounted either- the Witham vote briefly gave the party control of the Braintree constituency in 1997 before the boundary changes.
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