What a week! This Thursday (28 February), Brighton and Hove City Council should have set the budget for the coming year.
But as this article went to print, I didn’t know if the Labour, Green or, as I hope, Conservative budget has set the tone for the next 12 months.
We have also learned what a Momentum-dominated council would bring to our fair city when their manifesto for Brighton and Hove was leaked.
A ban on cars is bad enough but the idea that bailiffs should be abolished, suggesting that those who cannot afford to pay council tax would not have to, means decent honest residents would pick up the bill.
Whatever possessed the Labour Party to allow this? The Conservative budget proposals were formed after listening to residents.
This included a cutback in Labour’s tax rise through a reduction in bureaucracy and waste, demonstrating a clear commitment to taxpayers that the Conservatives will always cost you less.
And, far from cutting services, we pledged investment in respite activities for children and young people with disabilities, support for life-saving sexual health services, more library books and better information for our residents to support homeless people.
And much-needed investment to key areas that have been neglected by Labour, for example, focusing on increasing recycling levels, measures to tackle graffiti and fly-tipping, and improving our roads and pavements.
Of course, I cannot end this article without welcoming Councillor Anne Meadows to the Conservative group.
Anne has been a dedicated councillor since 1994 but has been driven out of the Labour Party by the disgraceful anti-Jewish racism permitted by the local Momentum caucus and Corbyn’s leadership.
The Conservative budget amendments – an alternative budget for a new administration – should have passed on Thursday night and unlocked the potential of our fine city.
If not, it further demonstrates that Brighton and Hove is held captive by a bullying and anti-semitic Momentum movement concerned not with what is best for residents but rather propping up the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
Councillor Tony Janio is the leader of the opposition Conservatives on Brighton and Hove City Council.
