Two candidates pitch for Labour councillor’s seat but he says ‘there’s no vacancy – yet!’

At least two people have said that they intend to apply to be the next Labour candidate for East Brighton Ward even though the sitting councillor has said: “There’s no vacancy – yet!”

Former parliamentary candidate Nancy Platts leads the field as rivals jockey for the chance to succeed Lloyd Russell-Moyle on Brighton and Hove City Council.

Councillor Russell-Moyle won the Brighton Kemptown seat in the House of Commons at the general election in June.

He said that he would stand down within a year which suggests that there may be a vacancy at some point in the next seven months.

Nancy Platts, who came a close second in Brighton Kemptown at the general election in May 2015, tweeted her intention to stand yesterday evening (Thursday 9 November).

A former member of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s staff, she said: “I am going to put myself forward to stand as the Labour Council candidate for East Brighton.

“I was proud to serve in @jeremycorbyn office.

“I now want to put everything I learned and all my skills and experience into use for the benefit of my community in #Brighton.”

Earlier another challenger Daniel Harris wrote on his blog: “It’s recently been announced by Lloyd Russell-Moyle that he is standing down as councillor for the East Brighton Ward to focus on his new position as MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven.

“I was born and raised in Kemptown. I started my life in Moulsecoomb before moving to Whitehawk in East Brighton in the late ’80s.

“I went to Stanley Deason High School and lived in a council house in the area.

“Young people and locals are rarely represented in the council and I want to change that and need your support.”

There are reports that two other potential candidates have also declared their intention to stand.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle said: “Just to be clear to all: I’ve not stood down yet as councillor (although I always said that I would do within a year) and selections are not open for new candidates until I do stand or the party receives a copy of my dated resignation letter which it currently hasn’t.

“Anyone can declare interest or intent in standing and good luck to those that do.

“I, of course, will make my choices of who to support in selection as a local resident when the time comes.

“Until then residents can contact me for ward and constituency matters … and my office is at residents’ service.