Greens celebrated after their candidate Marina Lademacher gave the party a ninth seat on Brighton and Hove City Council, winning the Queen’s Park by-election with 1,133 votes.
The 28-year-old teacher and researcher shook hands with her opponents at Hove Town Hall today (Friday 19 September) after her 404-vote majority was announed.
Councillor Lademacher said that the campaign had been a “marathon not a sprint” as she thanked supporters, the people of Queen’s Park for voting for her and the other candidates. She pledged to serve the whole community.
Councillor Lademacher said: “We’ve spoken to thousands of residents and have heard the same thing again and again.
“People are tired of being ignored, tired of struggling just to live with dignity.
“They have put their trust in our vision for taking seriously the struggles we face and working towards a city where people don’t just struggle to survive, can also thrive.
“I will fight for those people, for you, for us all, because our city should work for all of us, not just the privileged few.
“If you feel unheard, I will listen. If you feel powerless, I will stand with you. Together we’re not just resisting neglect, we are building something better.”
The leader of the Green opposition on the council, Steve Davis, said that he was delighted by Councillor Lademacher’s success.
He also commiserated with the other candidates and said that they ran a passionate campaign.
Councillor Davis said: “We expected, certainly, some success – and to get a better result than the previous by-election.
“But this swing is huge and it clearly reflects the feelings of the people in Queen’s Park and probably the city.
“I wouldn’t expect that this is going to be the last by-election before the local elections which are only 19 months away.
“We are without doubt in a resurgent position.”
The by-election was called after former councillor Tristram Burden resigned because of a conflict of interest after taking a new job as a local authority inspector at the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The results were
Marina Lademacher (Green) 1,133 – elected
Simon Charleton (Labour) 729
John Shepherd (Reform UK) 237
Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan (Liberal Democrat) 98
Sunny Choudhury (Conservative) 82
Adrian Hart (Independent) 64
The turnout was 33.28 per cent, with ballot papers issued to 2,351 voters from an electorate of 7,065.
Eight ballot papers were rejected. Three had votes for more than one person and five were unmarked or uncertain.
Labour has responded to losing a seat to the Greens in the Queen’s Park ward by-election, noting the challenging backdrop nationally.
The Labour leader of the council Bella Sankey thanked the people of Queen’s Park for participating in their second by-election since the council elections in May 2023.
Councillor Sankey said: “We knew this would be a difficult by-election, given the volatile national picture.
“While this result is disappointing, we want to thank every resident who kept the faith with Labour and to all residents for the important doorstep conversations.
“We are listening carefully to what people in Queen’s Park are telling us and will redouble our efforts to deliver on the issues that matter.”
In May 2024, Labour councillor Milla Gauge won a by-election in Queen’s Park after Chandni Mistry resigned after questions about where she lived.
On that occasion, there were 2,718 votes and a 39 per cent turnout.
The results were
Milla Gauge (Labour) 1,214 – elected
Luke Walker (Green) 766
Adrian Hart (Brighton and Hove Independent) 449
Sunny Choudhury (Conservative) 168
Dominique Hall (Liberal Democrat) 67
Tristram Burden topped the poll in Queen’s Park in the city-wide local elections in May 2023 on a turnout of 3,119 or 44.1 per cent of the electorate.
The results were
Tristram Burden (Labour) 1,822 – elected
Chandni Mistry (Labour) 1,702 – elected
Clare Rainey* (Green) 856
Mark Strong (Green) 682
Adrian Hart (Brighton and Hove Independent) 467
Martin Kenig (Conservative) 266
Thomas Osborne (Liberal Democrat) 163
* Former sitting councillor
Well done Queen’s Park residents.
With Labour turning into the Tories, it’s encouraging to see that residents can see what is happening, and make it clear when that vote that just because Labour wear red rosettes, everyone knows (at the moment at least) you just get Tory policies with Labour votes.
That’s hyperbole rather than fact. But it does show the underlying tension where voters sense a gap between what Labour says it is and what it does in power, at least on the national level. There’s a debate to be had about local vs national politics, which I personally think are very different in practical terms. I think it lends itself to the idea that a party should respect its historical identity. When I think about the parties at the moment, the ones that seem to be at the forefront right now are the ones that have a clear identity.
I hope she carries out what she said she would do that is improving the housing repairs
That’s already happening.
I received a lot of literature from the green candidate, which was either good campaigning or they overspent their election limit.
They won the seat, so I’d argue it was an effective use of campaign funds!
Thank you to residents of Queens Park. Of course national & local politics are largely different but the refrain that people are weary with the tired, corrupt & entitled 2-party system is accurate. Personally, I have found local Labour to not be listening to many within the disabled community on matters regarding housing & respite for families. Our local Labour councillors fail to even respond to emails on these topics. It is not good enough & frankly a real turn-off.
Greens are the third side of a shite political triangle.