BUSINESSES have shown support for Witham MP Priti Patel if she must fight to win her seat in the 2020 General Election.

Proposals have been announced to merge the constituencies of Witham and Maldon.

The Boundary Commission for England has announced the plans to split the Witham constituency between Braintree and Maldon.

The plans would mean that Witham MP Priti Patel and Maldon MP John Whittingdale would be set to fight over one seat.

Tina Townsend, chairman of the Witham Chamber of Commerce, said she would back Ms Patel as she has done a lot for business in the town.

She said: "Both personally and as the current chairman of the Chamber of Commerce I will be supporting Priti in her bid to remain the MP in Witham and Maldon if the boundaries change.

"Priti has done a huge amount to help us promote Witham and the businesses and also many people individually."

The MP of six years for the Witham constituency recently held a meeting with businesses to help prevent crime.

She has also pledged to see a super surgery built in the town to help improve healthcare.

Four wards from the current Braintree constituency would be transferred to Saffron Walden under the proposals, with three wards from the current Witham area moving over to Braintree.

The news comes as part of a plan to cut the size of the House of Commons from 650 MPs to 600.

The Commission will be hosting public hearings across England.

The nearest hearing will be held at Chelmsford Civic Centre, in Duke Street, Chelmsford from October 31 to November 1.