Labour hold on to control of City Council

A surge in support across the city saw the Greens take votes from both Labour and Conservatives as they came close to taking back control of the City Council to become the official opposition.

THE final result was 20 seats for Labour, 19 Greens, 14 for Conservatives and 1 Independent in the rock solid Tory Ward of Rottingdean Coastal.

Convenor of the Green Group, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “Greens are absolutely thrilled at the result this evening. It’s a vote for more Green voices on how the city is run. Residents have sent a resounding message that more Greens are needed to deliver real action on climate change, housing and homelessness.

“We are now focused on doing what is best for the city and in the coming days, we will be reaching out in order to deliver the positive change that is needed in Brighton and Hove.”

Highest profile casualty on a day of high drama was Cllr Emma Daniel the Labour candidate for Hanover & Elm Grove and Chair of the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee who lost her seat to a Green.

Four recounts were needed in Hangleton & Knoll ward where Conservative Group leader Tony Janio was just 27 votes ahead of the first placed Labour candidate John Patrick. His running mate Nick Lewry scraped back in by just 2 votes.

Following the disappointing performance of the Conservatives across the city, Cllr Janio has stood down as leader of the Conservative Group, blaming Brexit for his decision.

He said: “This was a massive Brexit kicking for us. I couldn’t stand again as leader of the Conservative group while Theresa May remains Prime Minister.”

Labour in Brighton & Hove, bucked the national trend where Labour was punished for their confused policy on Brexit. They lost 82 councillors and control of 6 councils across the Country, while Lib Dems locally did not match the Party’s national successes where they gained 703 new Councillors and took control of 10 new Councils. Greens nationally gained 194 new councillors, but failed to take a single Council.

Labour leader of the city council, Daniel Yates said: “We are the first administration in 20 years given this responsibility again.

“This council switched and switched. We have kept the confidence of the city, given the national protest vote.

“This is a progressive city. We have seen across the city the two progressive political parties returned at the expense of the regressive Conservatives.”