The Conservatives are selecting candidates for more than 60 target seats currently held by Labour amid preparation for an early general election.

The party published a list of 83 English seats where selections are taking place over the next six months, with 61 held by Labour, 14 by the Liberal Democrats and three by Reform UK.

The Labour seats being targeted span across England, with clusters in the West Midlands, the East of England and London.

They include Wycombe, held by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds, North East Derbyshire, held by armed forces minister Louise Sandher-Jones, and Suffolk Coastal, held by chair of the Rural Research Group Jenny Riddell-Carpenter.

While most of the constituencies being targeted by the Tories have a majority of 5,000 votes or less, the list also includes seats like Beckenham and Penge won for Labour by Liam Conlon in 2024 with a majority of close to 13,000 votes.

Candidates for these constituencies are being selected in tranches, with the final set to be concluded sometime in February.

The selections come amid continued speculation about the possibility of an early general election. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has repeatedly ruled out calling one, but speculation has continued to persist, particularly if Labour win the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

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