The Green Party has gained a council seat from Labour in Queen's Park after candidate Mark Strong won a by-election on Thursday 24 September.
Strong won 1,139 votes in Thursday’s poll, comfortably ahead of Labour candidate Steve Gladwin, who received 802 votes. Reform UK candidate John Shepherd received 160 votes, while Conservative candidate Stefan Sönke Speckesser secured 97 votes and Liberal Democrat candidate Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan received 74.
The turnout in the Queen’s Park by-election was 33.36%. The by-election was called following the resignation of former Labour councillor Milla Gauge.
Before the election, Strong told Scene Magazine he was standing because of concerns about the climate crisis, local democracy and social issues affecting residents.
Having lived in Queen's Park for 20 years, he said he had spent years campaigning on issues including public transport, healthcare, safer streets and protecting local green spaces.
In an interview with Scene Magazine, Strong also pledged to continue supporting Brighton & Hove's LGBTQ+ community, describing the current climate facing LGBTQ+ people as "an attack like Section 28 all those years ago".
"The Green Party has always strongly supported the LGBTQ+ community in the city and we will continue to do so," he told Scene Magazine.
Addressing trans and non-binary residents, Strong said he was "proud" to share Brighton & Hove with trans and gender-non-conforming people and said he would remain "a firm ally for trans people and the wider LGBTQ+ community".
Asked by Scene Magazine what he would do to improve LGBTQ+ safety if elected, Strong said he wanted to be "a listening councillor" and would seek feedback from local LGBTQ+ residents on issues affecting them in the ward.
He said concerns such as lighting in Queen's Park and safety on buses had already been raised and pledged to continue acting as an ally to the community.
Queen's Park by-election results
- Mark Strong (Green Party) – 1,139
- Steve Gladwin (Labour) – 802
- John Shepherd (Reform UK) – 160
- Stefan Sönke Speckesser (Conservative) – 97
- Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan (Liberal Democrats) – 74
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