Council leader Simon Burgess is one of more than two dozen people competing to replace retiring Labour MP Des Turner.

Coun Burgess, who is favourite to win Labour's nomination to fight the Brighton Kemptown seat at the next General Election, has sent a letter to local members setting out his credentials and asking for their support.

In it, the Brighton and Hove City Council leader warns that the poll, which must take place by 2010 at the latest, will be the toughest the party has faced in Brighton in a decade.

Boundary changes are blamed for halving Labour's 2,700-vote majority "before a single vote is cast".

Coun Burgess says: "That puts this seat right on dividing the line of whether Labour forms the next Government - or whether it's the Tories."

The council leader, who is believed to be the sole local candidate among 28 contenders for the nomination, is almost certain to make the party's shortlist in early June. The final winner will be chosen in a vote by members later that month.

Coun Burgess, anxious not to appear complacent about his chances, tells members: "I know the media will continue to predict that I am a shoe in to be the next Labour candidate.

"I have been involved in politics for too long to believe that, and I'm sure you will know by now that I don't take any vote for granted - in any election."

Supporters of Coun Burgess, who is currently campaigning to retain Labour's leadership of the city council at the local elections on May 3, had feared he would be prevented from putting his name forward by the imposition of an all-women shortlist.

But, following signs of a groundswell of support for the council leader among grassroots members, Labour's National Executive Committee ruled the local party would be allowed to choose a man to fight the next Election.

Coun Burgess's high profile, as leader of Labour's campaigns in Kemptown for over ten years and vice-chairman of the party's national policy forum, is believed to have helped sway party bosses.

In the neighbouring seat of Brighton Pavilion, where sitting Labour MP David Lepper has also announced he is to retire at the next General Election, an all-woman shortlist was imposed against the wishes of party members.

Just over a dozen women candidates are understood to have put themselves forward, including Brighton-born nurse Nicole Murphy, who works at Worthing Hospital.

A Labour Party spokeswoman said yesterday the party would not be commenting on the selection process until members had made their decisions.