Since 2015, the general Brighton area has been a stronghold for Labour and Green seats. This trend continued in the most recent elections, with Chris Ward representing Labour in Kemptown, Siân Berry representing the Greens in Brighton Pavilion and Peter Kyle maintaining his position as the MP for Hove and Portslade. Despite the consistency in party representation, this election marks a few unexpected changes for Brighton. Written by Lily Tucker
Brighton, Kemptown
Former MP Lloyd Russel Moyle was suspended from the Labour Party due to what he described as a “vexatious and politically motivated complaint” (BBC News). Moyle’s suspension stemmed from an anonymous source making a yet unknown complaint about the politician. Chris Ward was the candidate appointed in his place. Unlike Faiza Shaheen, Adnan Hussain and other recently ousted ex-Labourists, Moyle opted not to run as independent, a decision he believed best supported the people of Kemptown. Labour’s stance on a ceasefire led to many members leaving the party, resulting in a record number of independent seats (5) and candidates across the UK also splitting the vote in many areas. This occurred in Shaheen’s constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green, which elected Ian Duncan Smith, the old Thatcher-esq Conservative party leader, where the Labour vote was split between two candidates. Whilst Moyles popularity could have procured another independent seat, his decision not to run secured a Labour a win as Ward earned 17,800 votes.
Wards appointment as the Labour representative caused a stir within the local community, as he gained the label ‘parachute candidate’. In response, Ward tweeted a video were explained he was born and raised in Brighton. Nonetheless, his selection was not widely popular, leading to the emergence of parody Twitter accounts mocking huis lacklustre campaign strategy.
Ward has worked closely with Starmer and has indicated that his political leanings lie close to the right end of the Labour Party. He appears dedicated to the party manifesto and unlikely to vote against Labour in parliament
Hove and Portslade
Peter Kyle returns as the representative of Hove and Portslade for the 9th year. Having risen through the ranks of the Labour Party, he was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology following the elections. Nationally, Kyle has petitioned for lowering the voting ages and many reforms to protect the rights of victims. Locally he aims to increase jobs through the ‘New Deal for Working People’, creating more jobs around Brighton for the people of Brighton. Kyle’s popularity is evident, having secured 20,000 more votes than the second most popular candidate.
However, Kyle is not without controversy. According to Action Network Kyle is the only MP Brighton and Hove to not publicly condemn the actions of the Israeli state. A petition created to encourage him to do as such has received over 1,400 signatures, but this has not seemed to impact his local popularity.
Brighton Pavilion
Brighton Pavilion remains a Green stronghold in the UK, newly joined by 3 other constituencies. When Green party leader, Caroline Lucas, decided to step down there were fears that Green popularity in Brighton may fall, but Siân Berry’s 28,000 vote majority has resecured the Green seat – albeit with a slight dip from Lucas’s popularity.
This is Berry’s first time as an elected MP, after a long history of failed candidacies. She worked in London alongside the mayor with a focus on transport and housing and has served two terms as the leader of the Green party. She appears dedicated to the Green party and again to vote against them in parliament.
When considering the future of Brighton both Labour and Green manifestos display clear overlap on housing and transport – specifically renationalising the railways. Hopefully this means the Brighton and Hove council will be unified, at least in these important areas.
