THE BOSS of a charity opposed to animal testing is the latest Labour hopeful to try and unseat Caroline Lucas.

Michelle Thew will follow Nancy Platts and Purna Sen in trying to beat the Brighton Pavilion MP - who has increased her majority more than five-fold since becoming the country’s first Green MP in 2010.

Labour has also confirmed TV presenter Sophie Cook has moved a step closer to becoming the country’s first trans MP in naming her as candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham. To succeed she will have to overturn the near 15,000 majority of Conservative Tim Loughton.

Brighton and Hove City Council could be bereft of at least two councillors come June 8 with children and young people lead councillor Dan Chapman confirmed as the party’s candidate in Lewes. If he and fellow Councillor Lloyd Russell-Moyle, confirmed as candidate in much sought-after Brighton Kemptown ahead of eight other candidates, are successful, it will spark summer by-elections in East Brighton and Queen’s Park.

Cllr Russell-Moyle and Mrs Thew, along with incumbent MP Peter Kyle, will be hoping to match Labour’s clean sweep of the city 20 years ago.

The Hove mother-of-one, who has previously worked at the Animal Protection Institute in California and the National Deaf Children’s Society, stood in 2015 Bexhill and Battle where she finished third to Ukip and the Conservatives but increased the party vote by 20 per cent.

The confirmation of the nomination looks likely to end talk of a progressive alliance in the city - the Green Party had indicated standing down in Hove if Labour reciprocated in Brighton Pavilion.

That proposition has been backed in an open letter by Labour MPs Clive Lewis and Jon Cruddas, journalists Paul Mason and Polly Toynbee and musician Billy Bragg. The move has been opposed by members concerned that not campaigning will have implications for the 2019 council elections where they will defend six seats. A Labour party spokesman said: “Labour is fighting to win this election.” and will field candidates in every seat, with the exception of the speaker’s.”