THE Witham parliamentary constituency has survived until at least the next general election after plans to redraw electoral boundaries before 2015 were defeated in the Commons.
MPs voted 334 to 292 to accept changes made by peers, which means the Tory-backed shake-up will take place by 2018 at the earliest.
It was the first time Lib Dem ministers have voted against their coalition partners in the Commons.
The Boundary Commission changes are designed to reduce the size of the House of Commons from 650 to 600 MPs – the smallest number since the 19th century – and even up the size of constituencies to between 72,810 and 80,473 voters.
It would have seen MP Brooks Newmark's Braintree seat merged with the relatively new Witham seat of MP Priti Patel. But Mrs Patel will not automatically be out of a job if she decides to stand for elected office again.
She said: "I supported our proposals and it's generally disappointing that the Liberal Democrats went back on their pledge.
"As for the Labour Party, they were clearly voting to protect their self interests."
Although Mrs Patel said she backed plans to equalise constituency numbers across Britain, she said she was pleased that Witham voters continued to have their political voice.
"The vote means that Essex will continue to have 18 constituencies and not 17. The Witham constituency will remain and, I have to say, I am happy that my constituents will continue to be well represented in the future."
Labour and Lib Dem MPs were joined by smaller parties including the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the DUP, SDLP, Greens and Respect, to defeat the proposals, plus four Tories.
Some believe the proposals, which were backed in 2011 by both coalition parties, would help the Conservatives win up to 20 extra seats at a future election.
But a row over plans to reform the Lords – abandoned in the face of Conservative opposition – led the Lib Dems to say they would block implementation of the boundary review until after the next election, scheduled for 2015.
