The Labour Party is saying that it doesn't want to accede to the Prime Minister's request to call a General Election because it first wants to ensure that a No Deal Brexit is permanently removed from the table.

But another reason has emerged this week - the party is simply not ready for an election.

There are 263 seats across the country where Labour has yet to select its Parliamentary candidate - including 62 constituencies in the South East region.

Yesterday Labour Party members received an email from the party's head office urging them to put themselves forward for selection to one of the many vacant seats without a selected candidate.

In Kent, they include Ashford, Chatham and Aylesford, Dartford, Faversham and Mid Kent, Folkestone and Hythe, Gillingham and Rainham, Maidstone and the Weald, Rochester and Strood, Sevenoaks, Sittingbourne and Sheppey, South Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells.

Any party member who fancies putting themselves forward to become an Labour MP has until 5pm today to submit their application to selections@labour.org.uk

How is Brexit going to affect Kent? For all the latest news, views and analysis visit our dedicated page here.