UPDATED Royston Smith MP (Con) has announced he’s been unanimously re-selected to fight the Southampton Itchen seat, which includes Bitterne Park, whenever a general election is called.
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Smith held the parliamentary seat at the last general election with a much reduced majority of 31 votes (0.07%), making Itchen the fifth most marginal seat.
On social media he wrote: “I am thrilled to have been unanimously re-selected to fight the Itchen seat again whenever a General Election is called.
“This is my home and it is an enormous privilege to represent my constituents in Parliament.”
As reported, in August the Brexit Party announced their high-profile MEP Alexandra Phillips would stand in Southampton Itchen in the event of a general election, although there is also speculation about possible pacts between Conservatives and the Brexit Party in the press (eg here and here).
It was announced last year that former council leader Simon Letts would again fight “Labour’s number one target seat Southampton Itchen”.
Other parties haven’t announced candidates.
Green & LibDem candiates
Update: We understand that for the Greens John Spottiswoode will stand in Southampton Itchen while Katherine Barbour will be the party's candidate for Southampton Test, which includes St Denys and Portswood. Barbour stood down at the 2017 general election in favour of Labour's Alan Whitehead, but a Green source said currently "in terms of deals, no approaches have been made to us".
The Lib Dems haven't announced their Itchen and Test candidates.
Lib Dems announce general election candidate for Itchen
Updated 12/9/19 with final two paragraphs added about Green Party and LibDem candidates, and on 17/9/19 with link to later article about Lib Dem candidates