Rosie Duffield MP has revealed she is putting herself forward for re-selection as she bids to retain her Canterbury and Whitstable seat.

The Labour representative, who has recently been criticised by the chairman of her own party, says she wants a second term in office.

The 48-year-old admitted last autumn she was considering her future following a row about her attendance at a rally against anti-Semitism.

But now Ms Duffield has confirmed she will fight to stand again and try to build on her slender majority of 187.

In a statement, she says: "Boris Johnson is now Prime Minister. It is one thing to disagree with a Tory Prime Minister - in the Labour Party we usually do - but I do not believe that this man is fit for public office.

"We have got to be ready for a General Election. It could come as early as the autumn, but almost certainly by May 2020 and I am putting myself forward for re-selection as your Labour candidate and MP."

Ms Duffield suggests she will have to go through a re-selection process within the local Labour Party in order to secure her place on the ballot paper.

For a re-selection process to be triggered, a third of the local party needs to indicate they want it to take place.

KentOnline has approached the Canterbury Labour group and Ms Duffield for clarification on whether a re-selection process has been instigated.

Rumoured to be dating TV presenter Adrian Chiles, Ms Duffield has come under fire for claiming that her party "probably is" institutionally anti-Semitic.

Her statement, published early this afternoon, continues: "My message to Boris Johnson is simple: no deal would be devastating for the people of Canterbury, Whitstable and the villages.

"It would be devastating for Britain and you have no mandate for no deal.

"No deal would be a disaster: immediate disruption to trade affecting consumers, businesses and jobs; long queues at Dover; food prices up; medicine supplies disrupted; a fall in the pound and a recession likely.

"I am putting myself forward for re-selection as your Labour candidate and MP" - Rosie Duffield

"It’s not just a change of Prime Minister that the country needs, but a change of government.

"Let's work together to achieve that goal - making sure I'm re-elected as Canterbury’s MP and helping our brilliant candidates in other seats to get the Tories out."

If Ms Duffield were to be the Labour candidate, she will face competition from a female Tory.

Yesterday, the final four Conservative names - which need to be whittled down to one - were revealed.

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