THE Clacton and Harwich parliamentary constituencies could merge under new plans.

The initial proposals were announced on Tuesday by the Boundary Commission for England.

Final proposals are due in October 2018 for use in the general election scheduled for May 2020.

Under the proposals Ukip's sole MP Douglas Carswell would see Harwich added to his Clacton constituency.

The move would see the establishment of a new Harwich and Clacton seat, with a similar boundary to the old Harwich constituency that was abolished in 2010.

But the plans will see the deprived Jaywick separated from Clacton for the first time. It will instead join more affluent areas such as Dedham in the new North East Essex constituency.

Mr Carswell said: “I was disappointed when the previous changes divided Harwich and Clacton.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Harwich and Clacton and Frinton will be going back to the old boundary, in which I was first selected in 2001.

“But I’m very sad to see that a bureaucrat in London has proposed to change the boundary in a way that Jaywick is removed from Clacton. That doesn’t make sense for me.

“I think Harwich has had a raw deal being joined with suburban area of Colchester and villages far inland.

“Harwich will get a better deal now. It is a coastal town and will have more clout with other coastal towns.”

The plans were published on Tuesday as part of the Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the Eastern region report.

The report said: "At present the Harwich and North Essex constituency surrounds the Colchester constituency at its north-west, north, east and south sides, taking in the port of Harwich to the east.

"We propose to modify this arrangement by pairing Harwich with Clacton-on-Sea in a Harwich and Clacton constituency.

"In addition, we propose a North East Essex constituency that completely surrounds the Colchester constituency.

"Our proposed North East Essex constituency comprises 13 wards from the borough of Colchester and ten wards from the district of Tendring.

"As a result, the villages of Point Clear, St Osyth, Seawick and Jaywick are no longer included in a constituency with Clacton."

The new North East Essex constituency will include much of the current Harwich and North Essex seat.

Sitting Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin said: “There are no big surprises in the proposals, although I’m surprised Colchester has Rowhedge rather than Stanway and I’m intrigued that I get St Osyth and Jaywick.

“But there are no real surprises for Colchester, Harwich or Clacton.

“The constituency has always been diverse.

“I hugely regret losing Harwich. It is a very exciting town to represent with some big challenges.”

Former Labour MP Ivan Henderson, who represented the Harwich constituency from 1997 to 2005, said the changes would be a good thing for the seaside towns.

He said: "It has always been my view that Harwich has got more in common with Clacton.

"As an MP, it was easier to get involved in things that brought benefits to both areas, such as all parliamentary groups look at issues such as deprivation around seaside resorts.

"I think this is good news for Harwich and Clacton.

"But I think removing Jaywick from the same constituency as Clacton will mean Jaywick will find it a bit of a struggle.

"The MP covering Jaywick would also be concentrating on more rural and affluent areas. It would be a shame if Jaywick got ignored."

The number of MPs will be cut from 533 to 501 in England, with the aim of ensuring that each constituency have broadly similar populations.

Elsewhere in the county, proposals have been announced to merge the constituencies of Witham and Maldon.

The plans would mean that Witham MP Priti Patel and Maldon MP John Whittingdale would be set to fight over one seat at the 2020 General Election.