Boothby preselection hotly contested

Liberal Party nominations for the federal seat of Boothby in Adelaide have been hotly contested after MP Andrew Southcott's decision to quit politics to return to medicine.

Nominations close on Tuesday and Liberal Party state president Steven Murray says a large number of capable people have expressed interest in the standing for the seat at the next federal election.

Dr Southcott has held Boothby since 1996 and has consistently defied predictions he would lose the seat to Labor at successive elections.