Online campaign launched to save town’s MP

A new profile, called @SaveGregBarker, has appeared on micro-blogging website Twitter.

It is calling on voters to object to Boundary Commission proposals to remove Battle from the existing Bexhill and Battle constituency and put it in a new constituency called The Weald.

It is not known exactly who is behind the campaign.

When contacted by the Observer, the group said: “We are single issue/non-partizan.

“Battle needs a heavy-hitting minister, not a back bencher.

“There are some anti-EU, anti-Cameron in the Party that prefer a donkey to a stallion like Greg.

“Battle needs his support and he needs ours after the Guardian smear.”

The last line refers to a recent report in the Guardian accusing Mr Barker of “blurring” the line of a close adviser - a claim Mr Barker strongly denied.

Although the new account has just nine followers at the moment, amongst those followers are Conservative Minister for Housing and Local Government Grant Shapps, Liberal Democrat MP Martin Chelt and Labour MP Roger Godsiff.