LABOUR'S Nick Bent intends to battle for the Warrington South seat for a third time if an early General Election is called – if he can secure the backing of members.

Stockton Heath parish councillor Mr Bent, who lost out in the race for the constituency seat to sitting Tory MP David Mowat in 2010 and last year, believes there should be a vote once the outcome of 'Brexit' negotiations are known.

Labour North West confirmed parliamentary candidates would have to go through the normal selection process to win the chance to fight for seats.

In January 2010 Mr Bent won selection on the first ballot with 70 per cent of the vote and did so again in 2013 with 90 per cent of support.

And the politician is confident of getting the opportunity to speak to the electorate on the campaign trail again.

He said he intends to put his name forward for Warrington South before bidding to get the support from party members.

"Labour is a broad church and I'm proud that members right across the party respect my energy and commitment to campaigning," he added.

"We need strong, competent, inclusive leadership to beat the Tories and that is what I offer."

But Mr Mowat believes an early General Election could be detrimental for the country.

He said: "My view is that there is unlikely to be a fresh General Election.

"As tempting as it would be to seek a fresh mandate given the shambles in the Labour Party, a third vote in a year would not create the climate of calm the country needs right now."

As well as the election debate, the calls for a second EU referendum are continuing.

The House of Commons petitions committee, chaired by Warrington North MP Helen Jones, has decided to schedule a debate on the topic.

It comes after a document on Parliament's e-petition website calling for a second referendum gained more than four million signatures.

The debate, which will be opened by MP Ian Blackford, is set to take place on September 5 at 4.30pm in Westminster Hall – the second debating chamber of the House of Commons.

But the committee has made clear that, in scheduling the debate, it is not supporting the call for a second referendum.

The session will allow MPs to put forward a range of views on behalf of their constituents.

A Westminster Hall debate does not have the power to change the law and the discussions in September cannot end with the House of Commons deciding whether or not to have a second referendum.

It is down to the Government to decide whether it wants to 'start the process' of agreeing a new law for a second referendum.