Reform UK has chosen a serving councillor to be its candidate in the contest to become the first directly elected mayor of Sussex.
The party said: “West Sussex county councillor and veteran Paul Linehan has been announced as Reform UK’s candidate for the first Sussex and Brighton mayoral election.
“Councillor Linehan previously served in the armed forces in the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery before working in various sectors including as a lecturer at the Adam Mickiewicz University, in Poland, and a Detective Sergeant in Surrey Police. He also holds a PhD in Psychology.
“Originally from Yorkshire, Paul settled in the south after leaving the Army and has called Sussex home for more than 20 years. He is married with two daughters aged 20 and 15.”
Councillor Linehan said: “My sincere aspiration for Sussex is to give our residents and businesses a voice in their county.
“I want Sussex to be a county that works for the people who live and work here – a place where public safety is taken seriously, where housing and growth are planned with purpose and where training and opportunity are shaped around local needs.
“These new powers give us the chance to set a clearer direction for Sussex and I want that direction to be grounded in stability, ambition and a real focus on what improves everyday life for residents.”
At the last local elections, in 2021, Councillor Linehan his seat in the Bramber Castle division, where he lives, as a Conservative.
He is up against Katy Bourne (Conservative), Caroline Baxter (Labour), Rachel Millward (Green), Ben Dempsey (Liberal Democrat) and Martin Webb (Independent).
A choice that will be deeply unpopular by the vocal minority of Brighton and Hove but he might just make it!
Reform voters. The epitome of the term, vocal minority. Those who shout loudest.
Reform have a great chance, forget about Brighton they’ll vote for the lunatic socialist Greens whilst the rest of the county have common sense. Looking forward to Sankey and her minions having to listen to a Reform mayor – can not wait
Im from Brighton and will be voting reform in everything possible.
But why though? What policy do you like? I’m sure you have more grown-up views than just a voting Reform for the sake of it.
Get out of Brighton.
The Mayor of Sussex will have zero powers over any of the councils in the area so won’t be telling anyone what to do.
The mayor will not control everything- that is a misunderstanding of the role. Rather it is more about helping local authorities in Sussex work better together, including on new areas of responsibility and budget being devolved from central government
The great people of Brighton want a candidate who embrace the beauty of our diverse society, and willing to undergirded the right of every individual irrespective of race, gender, creed, sexual orientation etc.
The prepositions of democracy is the individual voter making a rational and conscience choice, and as conscious people we dare not to vote for a part or a candidate with scornful verbage.
I am just wondering if English is your first language or if your post has been incorrectly autocorrected.
The fact this clown even has a sniff at this is indicative if the absolute mess this country is in. Why are we rolling over and letting the government force an unpopular regional mayor on us when the region is made up of completely contradictory groups of people. The average Brightonian has totally different needs and wants compared to the average person from Billingshurst or from Wadhurst, for instance.
It’s utterly ridiculous and will ultimately mean that the region is represented by a candidate and party that is completely unreflective of the majority of the population, because there is no candidate or party that could possibly represent a majority of this region’s population. Worse still it just sows further division because I would be horrified to be under the rule of a Reform regional mayor which could only happen if my Sussex brothers and sisters had let it happen.
I don’t want to be actively feeling disgust at fellow Sussexians. We’re all allowed different views but I draw the line at having other people’s views forced upon me against my will. That’s why we have wards and constituencies covering areas where voters will often have similar views and opinions. You aren’t going to get that by voting across a region as big as Sussex and it means we’ll end up with most of us disappointed at best and absolutely horrified at worst.
That it’s being forced through by a Labour government aided by the Labour council of B&H absolutely beggars belief. It is turkeys voting for Christmas because I can guarantee you one thing for certain and that’s that we’re not going to end up with a Labour regional mayor and you can stick your house on that.
The policies and ideals of Reform do not align with the population of Brighton and Hove. It would be a heartache to have a Reform Mayor.. We are an inclusive city. Surely there is someone more appropriate… This rise of the alt right is organised… Who are funding this propaganda campaign and why?
He’s a bit of political contradiction himself; Reform often oppose devolution strategy that a mayor would be expected to run. This article tells me next to nothing about what he would he would do, so personally, until shown otherwise, it is safe to assume he’ll stick to the regular ex-conservative turncoat to Reform narrative.
Lots of money coming from Russia and Israel
At times like these, when the flags are out, and the haters are afoot, I like to think of Shakespeare’s vision of England, as expressed in St Thomas More’s ‘the stranger’s case’. https://youtu.be/afK_bXD7pMo?si=hOlZjmun4eYIWu1b
Martin Webb has the best CV for Sussex and he isn’t tied to an established party.
Webb is definitely the better protest vote than Reform.
I bet he is anti lgbtq+ Ukraine and Israel
And also doesn’t support blm
Councillor Linehan said: “My sincere aspiration for Sussex is to give our residents and businesses a voice in their county.
Is this the new inclusive policy of Reform? Nah, didn’t think so. Still makes a change from the hateful rhetoric they usually espouse.
That sounds more like his party line when he stood as an ex-Con. You could almost interchange them. Would not be able to tell the difference.