THE LONG-running wrangle over who will fight Southampton's Itchen seat for the Conservatives in the general election was due to be discussed by national party bosses today.

The Conservative Party Board - one of the highest decision-making bodies in the party - will be discussing how to select a candidate to fight the seat against Labour's sitting MP John Denham.

The meeting follows the latest twist in the long-running saga after Itchen Conservative Association again failed to find a candidate at a meeting on Thursday.

A spokesman for Conservative Central Office said: "One option would be to call another meeting of the association. The other options will have to be explored by the board. There is no shortage of potential candidates."

The row began in March last year when local Tories wanted the deputy leader of the Conservative Group on Southampton City Council, Councillor Royston Smith, 39, to contest the seat.

But the Harefield councillor's bid failed when he was not selected to be on the Tory list of approved candidates.

Conservative Central Office put the local association into "supported measures" to help members select a candidate but in spite of four meetings, party bosses are no closer to naming a candidate.

Itchen deputy chairman Councillor Adrian Johnson said: "We want a resolution as soon as possible."