THE Green Party candidate for Hove has hinted the Labour party could avoid a fight in the constituency if they sign up to an electoral pact.

Brunswick and Adelaide ward councillor Phelim MacCafferty told The Argus he was “not inclined” to step down, but warned “we can play hardball or we can play softball,” and called on the Labour Party to discuss ways to solidify the left-wing vote.

Cllr MacCafferty has been selected to fight the seat currently held by Labour’s only MP south of the M25, Peter Kyle, who is defending a slim majority of 1,236 in the traditionally Tory area.

On the other side of the city the Greens have agreed not to field a candidate in Brighton Kemptown, in order to maximise Labour’s chances of unseating incumbent Tory Simon Kirby, who has a majority 690.

But despite an ongoing debate at the national level about deals to create a “Progressive Alliance” in the face of a possible landslide by Theresa May’s government, Hove looks set to stage a four-way fight.

Cllr MacCafferty, who is seen by leading city political figures as strong candidate for the seat, told The Argus he had a mandate from his party to contest the seat but added: “That’s in the context of the conversations we’re having around progressive alliances. The issue is Labour are refusing to play a part in the discussions.”

Pressed on whether he would stand down if the Labour party agreed not to field a candidate to challenge his party leader Caroline Lucas in neighbouring Brighton Pavilion, Cllr MacCafferty said: “That would have to be a discussion for the party.

“My view on this is the party has given me a mandate to stand, it’s not my decision.”

He pointed out that Mr Kyle won the seat last time without an electoral pact in place.

But with current polls estimating a 17-point or 19-point lead nationally for the Conservatives - which would overturn Mr Kyle’s majority along with more than a hundred other Labour MPs - a case has been made for left-of-centre parties to avoid taking votes from each other.

Cllr MacCafferty said: “We can play hardball or we can play softball and at the present moment given Labour’s position in the rest of the county I’m not inclined to even think about standing down.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Kyle told The Argus that he’d found the mood on the doorstep “really upbeat.”

He said: “It’s striking that the city is much more welcoming of my and my team than it was last time. This time, we don’t have to introduce ourselves.”

Asked whether he felt Jeremy Corbyn was an electoral liability in Hove, he said: “I’ve always been a strong and independent voice, my record speaks for itself.

“When it comes to my city there’s evidence that I’ll stand up to the government, and at times to my own leadership.”

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Hove, Carrie Hynds, 29, lives in the constituency with her partner Dr Duncan Moore. She works as an editor and proofreader.

The Conservative candidate Kristy Adams was selected on Friday evening.

She attended Brighton College, owns a business based in Hove, and is a former school governer.