Seven of Labour’s 16 councillors are to step down at the local elections next May, the party has announced.
Those standing down include the current joint leaders of the opposition group on Brighton and Hove City Council, Councillor Carmen Appich and Councillor John Allcock.
And two former leaders of the council also plan to bow out – Councillor Nancy Platts and Councillor Daniel Yates.
One of the most recently elected councillors, Robert Mcintosh, who won the Rottingdean Coastal by-election in May, also plans to retire.
He found out that he was suffering from cancer during the by-election campaign and took a leave of absence for treatment shortly after taking his seat.
Councillor Clare Moonan, who chairs the council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and formerly chaired the Health and Wellbeing Board, is also stepping aside.
And so is Councillor Chris Henry, who also serves as office manager to Peter Kyle, the Labour MP for Hove.
The party said: “The Labour Party is selecting its team of Brighton and Hove City Council candidates for 2023.
“It will be formed of a mix of experienced councillors and new candidates who will bring a diverse range of backgrounds and community experiences to the council.
“The many years of existing council experience coupled with new perspectives will make for an exciting line-up.
“Several current Labour councillors will be stepping away from front-line politics next year, after years of tireless service on behalf of residents.”
Five of the current independent councillors were Labour candidates when they were elected.
The party is currently carrying out selections for each electoral ward – a process which was delayed by the recently completed boundary review of council wards.
Is it almost time to vote? How long has it been? I can’t remember the last time I had a chance to vote. Our town (sic) has gone down the toilet (literally) in recent years. Can we get rid of the lot (regardless of party) and start again as us locals may as well be invisible? Or will the vote be fixed like a parking consultation?
I’ve said it before and will probably repeat it again one day – I believe that locally and nationally there are too many “career politicians” who don’t have much interest in doing what’s best for the town, or country, but are looking for their next promotion and publicity. A proven record in managing should be a basic prerequisite, together with interpersonal skills and financial acumen. These should take precedence over political dogma.
Agreed. Too much ‘political theory’ and dogma and not enough good management and public service.
So why don’t YOU stand then?
Same reason that you don’t!
Hope the new Labour candidates are better than this lot of Green Party lackies. And again, we need concentration on vital local issues (ps that doesn’t involve cycles) not nationa and International l politics posturing
Mainstream parties with national agendas do not transfer into local council needs. Councillors often do not live in the wards they represent as they are parachuted into the city by their respective parties to “represent” the wards they know little about. Party dogma prevents progress and an inability to listen to one another and work together on a local level creates apathy from the voters as common sense local policies suffocate in factional arguments and the city declines as they blame each camp for their own mistakes without taking any responsibility for their lack of meaningful progress.
Difficult to think of potential councillors “parachuted” in from elsewhere. That would get them tangled up.
Labour is losing Momentum and gaining support
Councillors standing down before an all out election suggests they don’t think they’ll be in control after May.
Could it be a real chance to get candidates that support Keir Starmer’s policies?
What policies are those? Please specify. He has no policies.
Shame to lose john Allcock who is an effective and useful ward councillor. Why?
He is not as young as he looks, Valerie Dear…
Well won’t be surprised if labour gets voted in the greens will want a power share