Witham Conservative Association has given its full support to Priti Patel.

The town’s MP is under fire for holding a series of secret meetings with senior Israeli politicians.

The controversial meetings and who did and didn’t know about them led to speculation her cabinet career is in jeopardy, however she is being supported by colleagues in Essex.

Mark Durham, chairman of Witham Conservative Association, said: “The Witham association is backing Priti fully. She has our full support.

"We can only really concern ourselves with what she does as the MP for Witham, which she does an exemplary job.

"I don’t think anyone is in a position to deny that and that is what the Association’s remit is.

“She was selected by the Association to be stand for MP.

“What happened is between her and the Prime Minister.

“Her record as MP speaks for itself.

“Despite her job which takes her all around the world she has never neglected Witham.”

Tory Stephen Canning, an Essex County councillor for Bocking Blackwater who has been tipped as a future MP, said: “Priti has been a fantastic local MP – standing up for the area and showing she will always have the constituency and Essex’s interests first.

“She has quickly risen to cabinet. She has my full support, and the full support of grassroots Conservatives across Essex.”