The Greens have selected their candidate for a by-election in Hove after a Labour councillor resigned earlier this month.
Geoff Shanks, 71, is to stand in the in Westbourne and Poets’ Corner by-election for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council.
The date of the by-election has yet to be announced but council formally announced the vacancy a week ago after Leslie Pumm stood down on Monday 3 March on health grounds.
The Green Party said that Mr Shanks was the candidate to “hold Labour to account”.
Mr Shanks has lived in the ward for the past six years with his wife Sue who is a long-serving Green member of the council. The couple moved to Brighton and Hove more than 20 years ago.
He stood in the ward at the local elections in May 2023 when Leslie Pumm was elected and the Greens were runners up to Labour.
Mr Shanks is a retired accountant and is currently the treasurer of a local charity. He also volunteers for a national mental health helpline.
He said: “I am thrilled to have been selected by local members to stand in this by-election in the ward I live in. I know the area and the community well and would like to do my best to make our area better.
“This by-election is an opportunity to push Labour politicians towards a more progressive and green agenda – not more Labour cuts.
“Labour have broken election promises in both government and the council. Only by electing a Green can you ensure that your voice is heard on all the key issues.”
Councillor Steve Davis, the Green leader of the opposition on the council, said: “Geoff is a committed member of the community and we would be delighted to have him join the council as a Green councillor.
“This election will be between the Greens and Labour so every Green vote counts.
“Another Labour councillor will make no difference to how this council works. For another voice to hold Labour to account, Geoff is the only choice to vote for.”
What no reform candidate?
Why don’t you ask them?
The notice of the vacancy was only posted last a Monday and a date for the election hasn’t been set yet.
Even then you won’t know until the close of nominations.
Yes there is already one lined up, keep an eye out for the announcement.
Great news !
Reform – please come and save us from this hopeless bunch of leftys….
I’m genuinely curious to understand the mind of someone who wants to go Reform.
At 71, I would gently ask people to carefully assess his ability to address the ward’s challenges energetically, particularly when we consider this by-election caused the previous Ward Councillor, who was significantly younger, to step down due to health detriments from his role.
His previous electoral defeat in May 2023, could indicate limited voter appeal, which is not helped by the damage Green policy conducted whilst they were in charge; many would point to the i360. Additionally, his marriage to Sue Shanks raises concerns about political nepotism.
I’m not getting a strong sense of who Geoff is as a person and why people should vote for him specifically; it’s coming across as very much a Generic Green Party Candidate.
Actually laughed out loud at Benjamin’s attempt at political analysis. I don’t suppose that was the intention but thanks for the laugh.
Glad I could provide some entertainment, Tom. I stand by my points, though—it’s important to critically assess candidates, especially in light of past performance. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on why Geoff stands out from the crowd if you feel differently…or you can continue with ad hominem, which I will interpret as you agree.
Typical Green / Labour sense of entitlement to the ward. Labour are systematically pushing the country to the brink of recession whilst hammering businesses, farmers, pensioners and workers whilst spending £4,000 / month per person on anyone who gets off a boat and tears up their passport. As for the Greens, never forget how they neglected Brighton and Hove for years resulting in them being kicked out in 2023. As for the i360…….
The past numbers do suggest a Labour vs Green seat here. Cons as a far third.
Greens have not been in power for as long as you think – less than 2 years in the last 10.
An ageing Tory . I’m sure that’s what is needed
I’m a Labour voter of 30+ years but will be offering to support Geoff’s campaign Labour’s disgusting vilification of the ill and disabled today – cutting essential funds to people in need rather than addressing the root causes of rising rates of illness, means I will never vote for them again.
Locally though the Greens have cost the council two million a year in paying back the loan on the i360. Two million a year that could have been spent on libraries, on welfare support , on council tax reduction schemes but instead it has become the Green’s ‘pole tax’ on the city. Are you sure about voting green locally?
I don’t know if I would consider Green the alternative to Labour though, personally I’d think the natural progression would be Lib Dem.
The i360 wasted more than £40Million of public funds and the Greens left the Council in a poor financial state. Surely those sort of issues should be the ones discussed at this by-election. Also the closure by the Greens of some local facilities here in Brighton and Hove.
All this hot air, and this council STILL cannot empty the bins….what a joke…
Well, in this guy’s defense, he’s only a candidate.