PETER Kyle’s fight to stand for his own party at the next election has begun.

The Labour MP for Hove and Portslade must endure five ballots of branch party members asking whether they want him to face a reselection battle.

If only two of the five branches, which are broken down by council constituency, vote that he should, Mr Kyle will have to campaign against other party candidates to stand for the seat in the next election.

In a letter to constituency residents, sent out this week, Mr Kyle said: “With the Government poised to collapse at any moment, the Labour Party is getting ready for a general election.

“Part of this process is to urgently agree candidates.

“That’s why you will shortly be asked if I should be re-selected as your MP.”

Mr Kyle has previously been critical of the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – something which has put him at odds with campaign group Momentum.

The members of the fiercely pro-Corbyn faction were behind the ousting of sitting city councillors Daniel Chapman, Anne Meadows and Adrian Morris last year.

Rumours have persisted since 2017 that the group may attempt to remove Peter Kyle from his seat.

To do so, they will need a majority vote in two of the five wards.

The ballots of Brunswick Central branch and Goldsmid and Hove Park branch will take place on November 2.

The ballots of the Wish and Westbourne branch, Portslade branch and Hangleton and Knoll branch will take place on November 9.

Mr Kyle’s letter added: “When I was first selected for Hove and Portslade in 2013, people said we couldn’t win here. But as a dedicated team of activists we worked together against the odds.

“A small dot of fire in a sea of blue, we showed what Labour values in action can achieve.”

If the deselection battle is triggered, hustings will be held for candidates to present themselves to the local party members.

Mr Kyle will be able enter himself in the race.

The members, who are believed to number about 2,000, will then vote on which candidate they wish to see represent Labour for Hove and Portslade in the next general election.

This process is understood to take about three months. It is not yet known what would happen in the case of a snap general election.

The application process has already opened for people hoping to represent the party.

Greg Hadfield, a once-suspended but now reinstated Labour member, has applied for Brighton Pavilion.