Labour hold seats at Brighton council by-election

Labour held two seats in a council by-election in Brighton

Labour has held two seats on Brighton & Hove City Council in a by-election in two wards.

Two councillors stepped down in March. Both had been expelled from the Labour Party in December amid claims they did not live in the city.

The Labour Party said it made the decision after an internal investigation, but a police investigation found there was insufficient evidence of any wrongdoing and took no further action.

The two new councillors, Theresa Mackay and Milla Gauge, will join the council's Labour administration.

The council has been run by Labour since they won a majority in May 2023.

Deputy leader Gill Williams said: “We’re absolutely delighted. I’m overwhelmed by the amount of votes that we got."

On the residency row, she said: “I won’t pretend it wasn’t difficult and I for one was very disappointed for this to happen. However, that hasn’t stopped us working hard as an administration and as ward councillors for our residents.”

'For the future'

The by-election took place in Queens Park and Kemptown in the city.

Eleven candidates had contested the two wards from the Labour Party, Green Party, Liberal Democrats, the Brighton and Hove Independents and another independent candidate.

Luke Walker, Green Party candidate for Queens Park, said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed not to be elected, but I do want voters to remember the reason why the by-election happened and also there was an 8.5% swing towards us, so that’s something to build for the future.”

Votes were cast on Thursday but counted at the Brighton Centre on Sunday alongside votes for the Sussex police and crime commissioner.