2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election explained

Election Name:2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:No
Party Colour:Green Party of England and Wales
Previous Election:2019 Brighton and Hove City Council election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2027 Brighton and Hove City Council election
Next Year:2027
Seats For Election:All 54 council seats on Brighton and Hove City Council
28 seats needed for a majority
Election Date:4 May 2023
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Last Election1:20 seats, 32.5%
Seats Before1:16
Seats1:38
Party2:Green Party of England and Wales
Last Election2:19 seats, 34.1%
Seats Before2:20
Seats2:7
Party3:Conservative Party (UK)
Last Election3:14 seats, 21.0%
Seats Before3:11
Seats3:6
Party4:Brighton and Hove Independents
Last Election4:New party
Seats Before4:0
Seats4:2
Seat Change4:2
Party5:Independent politician
Last Election5:1 seat, 1.6%
Seats Before5:7
Seats5:1
Map Size:400px
Leader
Posttitle:Leader after election
Before Election:Phélim Mac Cafferty
Green
Before Party:No overall control
After Election:Bella Sankey
After Party:Labour Party (UK)

The 2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Brighton and Hove City Council, England. This was at the same time as other local elections in England. Due to a boundary review, there was a change in ward boundaries, but the city council continued to comprise 54 members.

The council had been under no overall control prior to the election, being run by a Green minority administration led by Phélim Mac Cafferty. At this election Labour gained several extra seats to win an overall majority, whilst the Greens lost several seats, including Mac Cafferty's.

Background

The outcome of the 2019 election in the city saw the Labour Party form a minority administration, with support from the Green Party of England and Wales. This shifted following resignations and expulsions of councillors from the Labour Party, leading to the Green Party forming a minority administration instead, with their leader Phélim Mac Cafferty being appointed leader of the council in July 2020.[1]

In 2022, the selection process in the major parties and political groupings in Brighton began. Of the 16 Labour councillors, 7 announced that they were standing down at the next election. This included the co-leaders of the Labour group, Carmen Appich and John Allcock, and previous leaders Nancy Platts and Daniel Yates.[2]

In 2022, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England undertook a review of ward boundaries in the city. Following the review, there were 23 wards across the council, an increase of two, and only five wards remained the same. The overall number of seats on the council stayed the same at 54.[3]

At the 2023 election Labour won a majority on the council for the first time since 1999.[4] After the election, with the previous Labour leaders having not stood for re-election, the party selected Bella Sankey to be its new leader.[5] She was formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023.[6]

Summary

Pre-election composition

PartySeats
Green Party of England and Wales20
Labour Party16
Conservative Party11
Independents7

Election result

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Ward candidates

[7]

Phélim Mac Cafferty and Hannah Allbrooke were sitting councillors for Brunswick and Adelaide ward.

Goldsmid

Jackie O'Quinn was a sitting councillor for Goldsmid ward

Hanover and Elm Grove

Steph Powell was a sitting councillor for Hanover & Elm Grove ward

Hollingdean and Fiveways

Siriol Hugh-Jones was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward, Zoe John and Theresa Fowler in Hollingdean and Stanmer and Jamie Lloyd in Withdean.

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean

Amanda Evans was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward

Preston Park

Leo Littman was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward and Steve Davis was a sitting councillor for Withdean.

Queen's Park

Clare Rainey was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward.

Rottingdean and West Saltdean

Bridget Fishleigh was previously elected as an Independent, but was re-elected as a member of the Brighton and Hove Independents.

Round Hill

Pete West was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine.

West Hill and North Laine

Sue Shanks was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine ward.

Westdene and Hove Park

Samer Bagaeen was a sitting councillor in the former Hove Park ward.

Woodingdean

Steve Bell and Dee Simson were sitting councillors for Woodingdean ward.

Changes 2023–2027

Notes and References

  1. News: 2020-07-22 . Greens tipped to run Brighton council after 'anti-Semitic' resignations . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-03-29.
  2. News: Frank . le Duc . Seven of Labour's 16 councillors to step down at next local elections . 20 December 2022 . Brighton and Hove News . 14 December 2022.
  3. News: Green . Daniel . New 'Whitehawk and Marina' ward among council boundary changes . 11 October 2022 . The Argus . 4 October 2022 . en.
  4. News: Luck . Flaminia . Sussex election results 2023 . 21 May 2023 . BBC News . 5 May 2023.
  5. News: Brighton's new leader Bella Sankey says city needs some TLC . 21 May 2023 . The Argus . 9 May 2023.
  6. News: Booker-Lewis . Sarah . Brighton and Hove's new leader elected . 21 August 2023 . The Argus . 30 May 2023.
  7. Web site: Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll - Brighton & Hove Election of City Councillors, Thursday 4 May 2023. Brighton and Hove City Council. 5 April 2023.
  8. News: Barlow . Patrick . Brighton councillor Samer Bagaeen quits Conservative party . 7 July 2024 . The Argus . 19 April 2024 . Brighton.