By Tim Ridgway
Latest TV
Former Brighton and Hove Albion chief Martin Perry is set to fight it out on the suburban streets of Hangleton and Knoll in his bid to become a city councillor.
The man behind the Seagulls’ £100 million American Express Community Stadium, pictured centre, has been selected as one of Labour’s candidates for the Hove ward at the local elections in May next year.
The area is currently represented on Brighton and Hove City Council by two Conservatives – Dawn Barnett and Tony Janio – and one Labour councillor – Brian Fitch, who is standing down.
But, with Labour activists talking up their chances of retaking control of the local authority, it is one of the areas where the party believes that it can take seats.
Mr Perry, who was only announced as a candidate for the city’s current third party in March, was chosen as a candidate at a branch meeting last night (Thursday 1 May).
He will stand alongside community and voluntary sector worker Nigel Jenner, pictured left, and freelance journalist Chris Henry, right, who also works for Labour’s candidate for the Hove constituency Peter Kyle.
Despite Labour’s hopes, current Conservative councillor Dawn Barnett said: “If he (Martin Perry) wants to come up and stand and take his chance then fair enough.
“I don’t care if he built the stadium or not. Not everyone likes football. I’m not worried about it and it’s by no means a safe Labour seat.
“We’ve got a good candidate as well as two serving councillors and it won’t be an easy fight.”
Labour currently has 14 seats on the local authority. The minority Green administration has 21 members, the Conservatives 18 and there is one independent.
May’s local elections are due to take place on the same day as the general election.
