The Prime Minister has called a general election for Thursday 8 June.
Theresa May made the announcement this morning (Tuesday 18 April) as she seeks her own mandate from voters. The approval of two thirds of MPs is required for the early election to go ahead.
Three seats will be contested in Brighton and Hove – Brighton Kemptown, Brighton Pavilion and Hove. Each is marginal.
There have been suggestions among some supporters of the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that the party’s only sitting MP in Sussex, Peter Kyle, should be deselected. But given the timescale, it looks likely that Mr Kyle will contest his seat again.
Mr Kyle said: “The public will see straight through this. This is not about the best interests of the country. It’s about what’s in the short-term interests of the Conservatives. They’re putting party before country.
“It feels too soon. People want to see how Brexit plays out. I have detected no appetite in the country or the constituency for an election.
“However, I’m always ready for an election. For me this is another chance to listen to people and communicate with them about what our community wants and how can I help them achieve it.”
Simon Kirby, who is currently a Treasury minister in the government, will defend Brighton Kemptown for the Conservatives.
Mr Kirby said: “I can confirm that, following confirmation of reselection by my local association, I will be proud to stand again as parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven.
“I will continue to do my best to support our Prime Minister, Theresa May, and be a loud voice locally and in Parliament for local residents.
“We need this election now to secure the strong and stable leadership the country needs to see us through Brexit and beyond.
“The choice is between strong and stable leadership in the national interest with Theresa May and the Conservatives or a weak and unstable coalition government led by Jeremy Corbyn.
“An election now will give the country stability and certainty for a full five years, not just up to the point at which we leave the European Union but beyond it too.”
Caroline Lucas will defend Brighton Pavilion, the Green Party’s only seat.
Ms Lucas, who is also the co-leader of the Green Party nationally, said: “Britain is at a crossroads and today’s announcement means that people are rightly given a say over the direction this country is going to take.
“Only the Green Party offers a bold, positive vision for a different kind of Britain.
“At this election we will stand for an economy that works for everyone – not just the privileged few – a Britain that’s open to the world and the protection of our precious environment.
“We will stand up to the politics of hatred and division that is scarring our communities and give people across the country a chance to vote for a better Britain.”
