2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election

The 2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Brighton and Hove City Council, England. This was at the same time as other local elections in England. Due to a boundary review, there was a change in ward boundaries, but the city council continued to comprise 54 members.[1]

2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election
← 20194 May 20232027 →

All 54 council seats
28 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
PartyLabourGreenConservative
Last election20 seats, 32.5%19 seats, 34.1%14 seats, 21.0%
Seats before162011
Seats won3876
Seat changeIncrease18Decrease12Decrease8

 Fourth partyFifth party
 
PartyBrighton and Hove IndependentsIndependent
Last electionNew party1 seat, 1.6%
Seats before07
Seats won21
Seat changeIncrease2Steady

2023 Brighton City Council Election Map

Leader before election

Green
No overall control

Leader after election

Labour
Majority control

The council had been under no overall control prior to the election, being run by a Green minority administration led by Phélim Mac Cafferty. At this election Labour gained several extra seats to win an overall majority, whilst the Greens lost several seats, including Mac Cafferty's.

Background

Results map of the 2019 election

The outcome of the 2019 election in the city saw the Labour Party form a minority administration, with support from the Green Party of England and Wales. This shifted following resignations and expulsions of councillors from the Labour Party, leading to the Green Party forming a minority administration instead, with their leader Phélim Mac Cafferty being appointed leader of the council in July 2020.[2]

In 2022, the selection process in the major parties and political groupings in Brighton began. Of the 16 Labour councillors, 7 announced that they were standing down at the next election. This included the co-leaders of the Labour group, Carmen Appich and John Allcock, and previous leaders Nancy Platts and Daniel Yates.[3]

In 2022, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England undertook a review of ward boundaries in the city. Following the review, there were 23 wards across the council, an increase of two, and only five wards remained the same. The overall number of seats on the council stayed the same at 54.[1]

At the 2023 election Labour won a majority on the council for the first time since 1999.[4] After the election, a new leader of the council was selected on 25 May 2023.[5]

Summary

Pre-election composition

20
16
11
7
PartySeats
Green Party of England and Wales20
Labour Party16
Conservative Party11
Independents7

Election result

2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
 Labour5438180+1870.446.485,185+11.8
 Green547012-1213.026.548,570-10.0
 Conservative50608-811.116.530,301-9.4
 Brighton and Hove Independents921013.74.27,779N/A
 Liberal Democrats300000N/A3.46,319-0.4
 Independent1311011.92.24,067+0.3
 TUSC80000N/A0.5922N/A
 UKIP30000N/A0.1173-0.9
 Reform UK10000N/A0.1127N/A

Ward candidates

[6]

Phélim Mac Cafferty and Hannah Allbrooke were sitting councillors for Brunswick and Adelaide ward.

Brunswick and Adelaide

Brunswick and Adelaide (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-opJilly Stevens 1,141 39.3
Labour Co-opAndrei Czolak 1,047 36.0
GreenHannah Allbrooke*1,04135.8
GreenPhélim Mac Cafferty*90131.0
Brighton and Hove IndependentsChris Woodley55018.9
IndependentDave Hall2669.2
ConservativeRichard Latham2037.0
ConservativeKeith Sharpe1625.6
Liberal DemocratsClaire Lachlan1545.3
TUSCDavid Maples792.7
Turnout2,905
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Central Hove

Central Hove (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-opEmma Daniel 1,832 54.6
Labour Co-opJoy Robinson 1,710 50.9
GreenHelen Dixon98829.4
GreenChristopher Hawtree73021.7
ConservativePeter Goodman41912.5
ConservativeMark Watson39211.7
Liberal DemocratsDavid Sears1935.7
IndependentNigel Furness1604.8
TUSCGlenn Kelly932.8
Turnout3,358
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Coldean and Stanmer

Coldean and Stanmer (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourMitchie Alexander 688 46.7
LabourTobias Sheard 510 34.6
IndependentKate Knight37325.3
GreenLaura Pizzolo36825.0
GreenMartin Farley35223.9
ConservativeRoz Rawcliffe18612.6
Liberal DemocratsJack Moxley1208.2
TUSCPenelope Iveson765.2
Liberal DemocratsMartin Wooller594.0
Turnout1,472
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Goldsmid

Jackie O'Quinn was a sitting councillor for Goldsmid ward

Goldsmid (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourBirgit Miller 2,426 51.2
LabourJackie O'Quinn* 2 421 51.1
LabourTrevor Muten 2,261 47.7
GreenRebecca Duffy1,36928.9
GreenOllie Sykes1,21125.5
GreenAlexander Louis Sallons1,08522.9
ConservativeEdward de Souza49810.5
Brighton and Hove IndependentsLinda Elisha49010.3
ConservativeDavid Lewis48110.1
ConservativeMike Long4569.6
Liberal DemocratsAndrew England3507.4
Liberal DemocratsPaul Chandler3427.2
Liberal DemocratsOwen Sharp2745.8
Turnout4,741
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Hangleton and Knoll

Hangleton and Knoll (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-opJohn Hewitt 2,501 52.5
Labour Co-opAmanda Grimshaw 2,490 52.2
Labour Co-opFaiza Baghoth 2,435 51.1
ConservativeDawn Barnett*1,90640.0
ConservativeNick Lewry*1,62934.2
ConservativeTim Hodges1,58233.2
GreenSarah Fitzgerald3607.6
GreenAndrew Coleman2385.0
IndependentJamie Gillespie2114.4
GreenNigel Tart1693.5
Reform UKIan Harris1272.7
Turnout4,767
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing

Hanover and Elm Grove

Steph Powell was a sitting councillor for Hanover & Elm Grove ward

Hanover and Elm Grove (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourTim Rowkins 2,484 48.0
LabourTy Galvin 2 453 47.4
LabourMaureen Winder 2,273 43.9
GreenFiona Wright2,06239.8
GreenWai Lee1,99938.6
GreenSteph Powell*1,88736.4
Brighton and Hove IndependentsBev Barstow74014.3
IndependentLaura King3586.9
ConservativeSusan Ellerton1893.7
Liberal DemocratsLaura Mullin1613.1
ConservativeKenneth Mills1522.9
Liberal DemocratsSamantha Waugh1392.7
ConservativeWayne Sturt1122.2
Turnout5,178
Labour gain from GreenSwing
Labour gain from GreenSwing
Labour gain from GreenSwing

Hollingdean and Fiveways

Siriol Hugh-Jones was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward, Zoe John and Theresa Fowler in Hollingdean and Stanmer and Jamie Lloyd in Withdean.

Hollingdean and Fiveways (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourTheresa Fowler* 2,770 51.0
LabourMohammed Asaduzzaman 2,643 48.7
LabourBruno de Oliveira 2,540 46.8
GreenZoë John*2,05937.9
GreenSiriol Hugh-Jones*2,04937.7
GreenJamie Lloyd*1,67430.8
ConservativePeter Revell3676.8
Liberal DemocratsAshley Ridley3386.2
ConservativeLesley Wilson3286.0
ConservativeJanice Bates3215.9
IndependentGary Jones3065.6
TUSCMegan Churchland1673.1
UKIPDaniel Goodhand1082.0
Turnout5,431
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Kemptown

Kemptown (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourBharti Gajjar 1,794 50.7
LabourGary Wilkinson 1,643 46.4
GreenLynn-Ora Knott82723.4
GreenBen Simmonds73920.9
Brighton and Hove IndependentsAlan Towler51414.5
ConservativeJosephine O'Carroll3469.8
ConservativeEwan Clinch3439.7
Liberal DemocratsRobert Brown3399.6
Liberal DemocratsDominique Hall2547.2
Turnout3,539
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean

Amanda Evans was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourAmanda Evans* 2,033 67.1
LabourTy Goddard 1,882 62.1
LabourJacob Taylor 1,785 58.9
GreenFrances Hunt70323.2
GreenAnna Roberts57218.9
ConservativeGemma Powell43414.3
GreenEd Roberts41713.8
TUSCJulie Donovan2779.1
Turnout3,030
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

North Portslade

North Portslade (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
IndependentPeter Atkinson* 1,065 42.7
LabourLucy Helliwell 1,045 41.9
LabourAlice Burton95938.4
ConservativeGary Taylor47319.0
IndependentAnne Pissaridou*45918.4
ConservativeKirk Taylor35814.3
GreenDebbie Shipton1285.1
GreenMike Dixon883.5
Liberal DemocratsMarjorie Leeds873.5
Turnout2,495
Independent gain from LabourSwing
Labour holdSwing

Patcham and Hollingbury

Patcham and Hollingbury (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeAlistair McNair* 2,037 38.5
ConservativeAnne Meadows* 1,821 34.4
ConservativeCarol Theobald* 1,799 34.0
GreenSophie Broadbent1,54429.2
LabourTyler Bennington-Poulter1,41726.8
LabourBenjamin Kent1,36625.8
GreenNorma Fletcher1,35925.7
LabourElizabeth Wheeler1,35925.7
GreenDaniel Rue1,30724.7
Brighton and Hove IndependentsPaul Denyer79014.9
Liberal DemocratsCaroline Brown2955.6
Turnout5,296
Conservative win (new boundaries)
Conservative win (new boundaries)
Conservative win (new boundaries)

Preston Park

Leo Littman was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward and Steve Davis was a sitting councillor for Withdean.

Preston Park (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
GreenSteve Davis* 2,162 43.2
LabourLiz Loughran 2,139 42.7
GreenKerry Pickett 2,135 42.6
GreenLeo Littman*2,10342.0
LabourTheresa Mackey1,97239.4
LabourDavid Messent1,72834.5
ConservativeLisa Watson53010.6
ConservativeHugh Robinson4749.5
ConservativeAlex Wild4619.2
IndependentJan Turner3947.9
Liberal DemocratsHyder Khalil3817.6
Turnout5,008
Green win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)
Green win (new boundaries)

Queen's Park

Clare Rainey was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward.

Queen's Park (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourTristram Burden 1,822 58.4
LabourChandni Mistry 1,702 54.6
GreenClare Rainey*85627.4
GreenMark Strong68221.9
Brighton and Hove IndependentsAdrian Hart46715.0
ConservativeMartin Kenig2668.5
Liberal DemocratsThomas Osborne1635.2
Turnout3,119
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Regency

Regency (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
GreenChloë Goldsmith 1,162 41.9
LabourAlison Thomson 920 33.2
GreenRicky Perrin91933.2
LabourPeter Devonport90732.7
Liberal DemocratsLawrence Eke38513.9
Brighton and Hove IndependentsGary Farmer36913.3
Liberal DemocratsTrevor Freeman31311.3
ConservativeTimothy Catt2328.4
ConservativeRobert Greenfield1906.9
Turnout2,771
Green holdSwing
Labour gain from GreenSwing

Rottingdean and West Saltdean

Bridget Fishleigh was previously elected as an Independent, but was re-elected as a member of the Brighton and Hove Independents.

Rottingdean and West Saltdean (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Brighton and Hove IndependentsBridget Fishleigh* 2,266 52.9
Brighton and Hove IndependentsMark Earthey 1,593 37.2
LabourRon White1,29930.3
LabourCarole McIver-Wren1,26829.6
ConservativeDaniel Harrison55212.9
ConservativeSteven Smith50111.7
IndependentNigel Smith3277.6
GreenCarol Bullock2034.7
GreenGeorgia Wrighton1423.3
Liberal DemocratsCaroline Ellis1353.1
TUSCRonald Reader300.7
Turnout4,287
Brighton and Hove Independents win (new boundaries)
Brighton and Hove Independents win (new boundaries)

Round Hill

Pete West was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine.

Round Hill (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
GreenPete West* 1,408 52.9
GreenRaphael Hill 1,383 52.0
LabourMost Ara1,06139.9
LabourYassin Hassan92034.6
Liberal DemocratsMatthew Davies1676.3
ConservativeTony Meadows1355.1
ConservativeClare Rogers1325.0
Turnout2,661
Green win (new boundaries)
Green win (new boundaries)

South Portslade

South Portslade (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourLes Hamilton* 1,767 67.8
LabourAlan Robins* 1,589 61.0
ConservativeSteve Harmer-Strange36514.0
GreenSally Cranfield33012.7
ConservativeAijuan Wang29111.2
Liberal DemocratsKen Rist2519.6
GreenDanny Booth2168.3
IndependentHelen Dear2047.8
Turnout2,605
Labour holdSwing
Labour holdSwing

West Hill and North Laine

Sue Shanks was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine ward.

West Hill and North Laine (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
GreenEllen McLeay 1,346 51.0
GreenSue Shanks* 1,256 47.6
LabourTom Chatfield92835.2
LabourJohn Cooper90534.3
ConservativeKatherine Janio2067.8
ConservativeLinda Murray1977.5
Liberal DemocratsRob Heale1877.1
Liberal DemocratsAnthony Seymour1455.5
Turnout2,637
Green win (new boundaries)
Green win (new boundaries)

Westbourne and Poets' Corner

Westbourne and Poets' Corner (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-opJulie Cattell 1,911 56.5
Labour Co-opLeslie Pumm 1,741 51.5
GreenRenato Marques74322.0
GreenGeoff Shanks69120.4
ConservativeMichael Bates44813.3
ConservativeMark Clayton42112.5
IndependentJames Verguson2116.2
Liberal DemocratsGeoff Date2086.2
TUSCDave Hill1113.3
UKIPPatricia Mountain651.9
Turnout3,381
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Westdene and Hove Park

Samer Bagaeen was a sitting councillor in the former Hove Park ward.

Westdene and Hove Park (3)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
ConservativeSamer Bagaeen* 2,246 41.9
ConservativeEmma Hogan 2,237 41.7
ConservativeIvan Lyons 2,181 40.7
LabourLundy Mackenzie2,08138.8
LabourWarren Morgan2,04038.0
LabourBen Philipsborn1,88135.1
GreenMelanie Poots81915.3
GreenJake Sharpstone60511.3
GreenSteve Griffiths58410.9
Liberal DemocratsCarolyn Dunn3566.6
Liberal DemocratsAndrew Harrison2895.4
Liberal DemocratsSimon Jardine2795.2
Turnout5,363
Conservative win (new boundaries)
Conservative win (new boundaries)
Conservative win (new boundaries)

Whitehawk and Marina

Whitehawk and Marina (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourDavid McGregor 1,366 54.1
LabourGill Williams 1,330 52.7
ConservativePaul Wood64225.4
ConservativeRobb Young60023.8
GreenAditi Bhonagiri38515.2
GreenMat Sunderland2198.7
Liberal DemocratsStewart Stone2068.2
TUSCBill North893.5
Turnout2,525
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Wish

Wish (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourBella Sankey 2,216 65.0
LabourPaul Nann 2,062 60.5
ConservativeBenjamin Franks74721.9
ConservativePaul Tanner70520.7
GreenSharon Hamlin2677.8
IndependentGeorgia McKinley-Fitch2096.1
GreenGuy Davidson1634.8
Liberal DemocratsStamati Crook1614.7
UKIPJohn Gartside491.4
Turnout3,408
Labour win (new boundaries)
Labour win (new boundaries)

Woodingdean

Steve Bell and Dee Simson were sitting councillors for Woodingdean ward.

Woodingdean (2)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJacob Allen 1,581 50.2
LabourJacqui Simon 1,551 49.2
ConservativeDee Simson*1,32242.0
ConservativeSteve Bell*1,27540.5
GreenGeraldine Keenan1625.1
GreenLuke Walker1043.3
Liberal DemocratsIan Newman1023.2
Turnout3,150
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing
Labour gain from ConservativeSwing

2023-2027 by elections

South Portslade by-election 11 January 2024 (resignation of Les Hamilton)[7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourJosh Guilmant 874 54.6 6.0
ConservativeBenjamin Franks24615.4 2.9
Liberal DemocratsKenneth Rist18611.6 3.0
GreenDanny Booth1499.3 2.0
TUSCDavid Maples533.3N/A
Democratic Liberation PartyGeorgia McKinley-Fitch493.1N/A
IndependentJamie Gillespie442.7N/A
Majority62839.2
Turnout1,601
Labour holdSwing
Queen’s Park by-election, 2 May 2024 (resignation of Chandni Mistry) [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourMilla Gauge 1,214 46.1 12.3
GreenLuke Walker76628.4 1.1
Brighton and Hove IndependentsAdrian Hart44916.6 1.6
ConservativeSunny Choudhury1686.2 2.3
Liberal DemocratsDominique Hall672.4 2.8
Majority44816.5
Turnout2,71839.0
Labour holdSwing
Kemptown ward by-election, 2 May 2024 (resignation of Bharti Gajjar) [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
LabourThéresa Mackey 1,382 45.8 4.9
GreenRicky Perrin59019.5 3.9
Liberal DemocratsRobert Brown40613.4 3.8
Brighton and Hove IndependentsGary Farmer36912.2 2.3
ConservativeJosephine O’Carroll2227.4 2.4
IndependentJamie Gillespie441.5N/A
Majority79226.3
Turnout3,01334.8
Labour holdSwing

References