“Labour are taking a huge gamble with our city’s future.” Brighton & Hove Greens call for city to have its say on devolution plans

This Thursday (January 9), the Labour Cabinet on Brighton & Hove City Council will make a decision on behalf of the city, asking the Labour government to fast-track a move which would see Brighton & Hove come under the control of a Sussex-wide mayoralty.

A white paper on devolution was released by the government shortly before Christmas, which included a foreword by Angela Rayner MP. She said: “If we are going to build an economy that works for everyone, we need nothing less than a completely new way of governing – a generational project of determined devolution.

“Because the Westminster system is part of the problem. Whitehall is full of layers of governance and bureaucracy, controlled and micromanaged from the centre. To truly get growth in every corner of the country and put more money into people’s pockets, we must rewire England and end the hoarding in Whitehall by devolving power and money from central government to those with skin in the game.”

Brighton & Hove Greens have “slammed” this decision, saying this “first step should have been a decision for Full Council to make – allowing all councillors to discuss the issue rather than a handful of Labour members”, and the party is “calling for any final decisions on large scale changes to local democracy to be subject to a binding referendum”.

Steve Davis, Green Group Convenor, said: “The proposals going before Cabinet this Thursday represent a step towards some of the largest changes to local democracy that we have seen in recent history. Labour has absolutely no mandate for these plans, which have been drawn up in haste, leaving very little time for proper scrutiny.

“Labour are taking a huge gamble with our city’s future which, based on the last elections, could see it put under the control of a Tory or even Reform mayor. This is a clear example of politics being done to people, not for them – the residents of Brighton & Hove deserve to have their say on this massive decision.”