Call for political parties in Brighton and Hove to unite against Tories

10:00am Monday 14th January 2013 in News By Neil Vowles

A council leader has called on opposing political parties to unite in a bid to oust Conservative MPs from Brighton and Hove at the next election.

City council leader Jason Kitcat said that political leaders should put aside “party tribalism” and work together to prevent a repeat of the 2010 election when the Tories took two of the three seats in the city.

Writing on his blog, Coun Kitcat advised Labour against wasting huge resources campaigning on all three of the city’s seats only to finish their campaign without a city MP.

He said the Green Party would “throw everything we have at Brighton Pavilion” but denied that his blog implied that they would prioritise Caroline Lucas’s seat and allow Labour a free run at regaining their Hove and Kemptown seats.

Labour figures in the city rejected the call and said there would be no pacts or backroom deals.

The three Brighton seats sit high among the priorities nationally for Labour in a recently released list of target seats.

'Progressive majority'

In his blog, Coun Kitcat said a “broader electoral effort” than just Labour voters was needed to ensure progressive MPs were elected, and it required Greens, trade unionists and disaffected Lib Dems to pull together.

He wrote there was a “progressive majority” in the city with the “vast majority” of residents against the Coalition parties and their policies.

In the 2010 election, more than half of all voters plumped for Coalition parties in Brighton Kemptown and Hove.

Coun Kitcat said: “It’s not tribalist to have a mature debate about how this city can ensure progressive politics succeed in the 2015 elections.

Defending seat

“My blog merely reaffirms my personal view that Greens will be very keen to defend Caroline’s seat, but makes no comment nor commitment on how resources will be allocated to other seats we are likely to contest.”

Conservative deputy leader Garry Peltzer Dunn said Coun Kitcat was “clutching at straws”.

He said: “To make these sort of claims two-and-a-half years before an election is the height of absurdity. The Green Party are as different from Labour as they are from Conservative.”

Labour deputy leader Councillor Warren Morgan said: “The Greens have shown no qualms about defeating Labour candidates and councillors, in some cases taking the seats themselves.”

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Comments(37)

Algeria Touchshriek says...
10:18am Mon 14 Jan 13

Kitekat sounds desperate!!

I suppose with a party so full of hate and uselessness, it is to be expected.

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Vigilia says...
10:22am Mon 14 Jan 13

Such a silly, scruffy, man

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Phani Tikkala says...
10:29am Mon 14 Jan 13

Nothing to worry about, he'll be out of a job by then

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wexler53 says...
10:31am Mon 14 Jan 13

Just a tad deluded our KitKat....

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Mark_Hove says...
10:38am Mon 14 Jan 13

He's right though isn't he. The Tory party is awful and must be rid of in the next election by whatever means necessary!

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anubis says...
10:48am Mon 14 Jan 13

Unprincipled career politicians like Kitcat say anything to elicit a vote from the naive. As residents of Goldsmid have discovered to their cost, electing a Green is to vote for 'representatives' who ignore constituents (even deleting correspondence before reading it!) ... when it comes to the crucial vote (following sham consultation) it's the Tories (not Labour) who rush to support the manufactured data of the Greens. DON'T THEORIZE IN THE ABSTRACT -- just observe what's happening ...

Ironically, if it's authoritarian rule you seek, the Greens and the Tories are the 'natural' allies!

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see and speak sense says...
10:49am Mon 14 Jan 13

"progressive"..." unite"..." mature debate"..... Has Jason been following some political bloggs .. Because this is what every other party is saying at the moment.... What's really sad is the fact that the green party have absolutely no idea practicly what any of these statements mean!!!!

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boblat says...
10:56am Mon 14 Jan 13

Isn't that like the 'pot' calling the 'kettle' black...? There's ony one real Tory on the Green Council....!

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AGT999 says...
10:57am Mon 14 Jan 13

Brighton voters would be better served by the Tories and Labour Party getting together to get rid of the Greens. Be careful what you wish for Mr Kitcat

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Surely not! says...
11:05am Mon 14 Jan 13

Curious the invective on here. Interestingly those that call the greens authoritarian are the most unpleasant and abusive. I simply cannot understand the tribalism on here. It reminds me of the little groups of thugs on West Street on a Saturday night only without the dignity! i really have little idea of what kitkat is like as a politician. I live in a solid Labour ward so my vote really doesn't count. All I know is that the words used to describe him on here are childish and immature. I can't begin to imagine what goes on in your minds that you can write this stuff, let alone post it. I wonder how many of you would stand up and say it to his face?

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SussexLifeform says...
11:18am Mon 14 Jan 13

A bizarre statement to make, given how far away the election is.

It would appear that Kitcat isn't quite as detached from reality as he may appear - the general tone on here and elsewhere suggests that the electorate have realised the great green experiment hasn't achieved anything of any note save higher taxes, parking charges, and 200yds of bike lane along the Shoreham Road.

Certainly all the fluff and bluster they arrived with has amounted to nought.

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s_james says...
11:20am Mon 14 Jan 13

No different to some Tory MPs calling for a pack with UKIP. Good excuse for some classic Argus green-bashing though

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upsidedowntuctuc says...
11:58am Mon 14 Jan 13

This is Jason's campaign to up his stature to gain the MEP spot for the Greens.
If anyone seriously thinks that Ms Lucas will be re elected they are 'green' behind the ears!
What has she done for the City apart from attract a conference on squatting?
By the time the election comes round the Greens will be as popular in this City as a Muscle car at one of their conferences.

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whereisthe...? says...
12:09pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Psycho Tories... psycho Tories....

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Bob_The_Ferret says...
12:10pm Mon 14 Jan 13

How about a concerted effort by all the other political parties to make the greens history at the next council elections!

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lordenglandofsussex says...
12:11pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Labour: The Evil Party.
Conservative: The Nasty Party.

Only one party will save Britain from millions of immigrants and the EU.

Support UKIP and rid the country of the Marxist dogs who have wrecked Britain.

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george smith says...
12:31pm Mon 14 Jan 13

A poll yesterday showed ukip ahead of the Torys,
Lib dens almost nowhere to be seen.

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Algeria Touchshriek says...
12:40pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Surely not! wrote:
Curious the invective on here. Interestingly those that call the greens authoritarian are the most unpleasant and abusive. I simply cannot understand the tribalism on here. It reminds me of the little groups of thugs on West Street on a Saturday night only without the dignity! i really have little idea of what kitkat is like as a politician. I live in a solid Labour ward so my vote really doesn't count. All I know is that the words used to describe him on here are childish and immature. I can't begin to imagine what goes on in your minds that you can write this stuff, let alone post it. I wonder how many of you would stand up and say it to his face?
Mrs Kitekat.

You have been told not to post about your darling son on here already, you know it makes him all shy!!

Whilst you are there however, can you tell him to wear a tie and have shave and wash. He may think he is "cool" to look like Wurzel Gummidge but really it's not.

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gaz scott says...
1:08pm Mon 14 Jan 13

lordenglandofsussex wrote:
Labour: The Evil Party.
Conservative: The Nasty Party.

Only one party will save Britain from millions of immigrants and the EU.

Support UKIP and rid the country of the Marxist dogs who have wrecked Britain.
There are more Space Cadets in UKIP than even the Green Party.

Report this post »

Surely not! says...
1:22pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Algeria Touchshriek wrote:
Surely not! wrote:
Curious the invective on here. Interestingly those that call the greens authoritarian are the most unpleasant and abusive. I simply cannot understand the tribalism on here. It reminds me of the little groups of thugs on West Street on a Saturday night only without the dignity! i really have little idea of what kitkat is like as a politician. I live in a solid Labour ward so my vote really doesn't count. All I know is that the words used to describe him on here are childish and immature. I can't begin to imagine what goes on in your minds that you can write this stuff, let alone post it. I wonder how many of you would stand up and say it to his face?
Mrs Kitekat.

You have been told not to post about your darling son on here already, you know it makes him all shy!!

Whilst you are there however, can you tell him to wear a tie and have shave and wash. He may think he is "cool" to look like Wurzel Gummidge but really it's not.
HaHa.. you are the real Jason Kitcat and I claim my five pounds. I am afraid naming yourself after an obscure Bowie song about a mad sad old man who has become frightened by the world outside his window is just too obvious. Please be more subtle next time.

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stir up says...
1:39pm Mon 14 Jan 13

What more can you expect from a party that have no real policies of their own using the word green to make people feel they actually have some idea of what they are doing. Everything they have done so far has created problems for everyone and made visiting Brighton a nightmare.

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Morpheus says...
1:53pm Mon 14 Jan 13

What would ousting Brighton MPs from any party achieve? Brighton isn't the UK, something we should be grateful for where politics is concerned.

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funkyyoyo says...
2:07pm Mon 14 Jan 13

its ukip for me 100% and others ive spoken to are too!! as for kitcrap hahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahaha jog on kitty!!!!

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rayellerton says...
2:39pm Mon 14 Jan 13

This charlatan should keep his nose out, all him and his like have done is destroy Brighton as we knew it. In anycase, its my opinion the political parties should be kept well away from local government, and councillors should serve for a limited time of 2 years to prevent any chance of being corrupted. The position of councillor should be an honourable one where they serve the best interests of council tax payers both private and business..

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Rostrum says...
3:55pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Progressive Majority = Socialist, Communists and Head-in-the cloud utopians.

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Dealing with idiots says...
4:34pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Well they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so I will be gracious enough to say thank you Jason. There is already a call to action for the Con and Lab to form a coalition and take over the running of the city from these champagne marxists. You were elected to serve all the people, not just the ones who you like. Get involved and get them out!
Sign our e-petition
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
ID=360&RPID=6055851&
HPID=6055851

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sedwardsESQ says...
5:08pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Mr KitKat I think it's time you put your claws in can you not take a little banter from opposition, if the Greenness had it's way everything would be green without any opposition.
So what's so green without the claws or is it perhaps a fact that you need the liberals for a scapegoat for when we find out how you have wasted our budget?

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Fight_Back says...
6:15pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Sorry, is this the same Jason Kitcat that stood up in front of the whole council at the budget meeting last year and proceeded to rant like a six year old child about how bad the Tories and Labour were because they wouldn't support the proposed budget ? How his attitude had clearly changed !

Maybe, just maybe, Jason, if YOUR party councillors bothered to answer residents complaints / comments in a timely manner ( i.e. BEFORE the council debate on the topic ) then you'd deserve some respect. As you nor your party do this I really can't see why anyone should listen to you.

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jc897 says...
6:23pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Think the greens can now count on many ex-liberal democrat voters changing colour after the traitorous actions of Mr. Clegg the Kingmaker few years ago.

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sedwardsESQ says...
7:38pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Surely not! wrote:
Curious the invective on here. Interestingly those that call the greens authoritarian are the most unpleasant and abusive. I simply cannot understand the tribalism on here. It reminds me of the little groups of thugs on West Street on a Saturday night only without the dignity! i really have little idea of what kitkat is like as a politician. I live in a solid Labour ward so my vote really doesn't count. All I know is that the words used to describe him on here are childish and immature. I can't begin to imagine what goes on in your minds that you can write this stuff, let alone post it. I wonder how many of you would stand up and say it to his face?
I would stand up and say to him but I not sure he would...........lol

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sedwardsESQ says...
7:54pm Mon 14 Jan 13

I remember in a telephone conversation with Caroline Lucas and long before filling any seats, "She stated that if she won a seat within City Council she would support someone in a long hard battle that had gone too far" well after the power hit her head think she must have forgotten them, so now of course when taking up seats at City Council you inherit it, now I shouldn't expect everyone who writes here to know what "it" is and honestly it would bore you but they are aware.............lo
l I can assure it is not something that was given to someone but instead forced upon them in response to serious allegations they could not respond.

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sedwardsESQ says...
8:05pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Mark_Hove wrote:
He's right though isn't he. The Tory party is awful and must be rid of in the next election by whatever means necessary!
Mark it would make no difference, I can assure you like any politician would do (if honest) these policy's have already been made well in advance and even if UKIP took seat these policy's will still have to be carried out as per plan.

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Idontbelieveit1948 says...
8:30pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Oh dear Jase, finally tumbled have you - people really don't like your Greens, not just because you are a bunch of weirdo zealots but because you have actually done much damage to our city. We really don't want hee any more but here's a parting gift in th form of a nursery rhyme for our times ;-

Jase and Bill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of Green slop,
The bucket broke and drenched the folk
Who couldn’t shift it with sponge or mop.

Jase rushed down and looked around
And collapsed with so much laughter,
Because he’d seen we’d all turned green
And that was what he was after.

Green leader Bill took in his fill
And said to Jase with much flair,
I’ve had enough of all this guff
I think I’ll buzz off and be Mayor

So Jase took charge and gave it large
To travellers and people that do squat,
As Brighton gains yet more cycle lanes,
Our verges and parks all go to pot

Soon folk could tell the terrible smell
Was getting worse all of the time
‘twas all about the slop Greens spout
Gradually turning into slime

Yes, Jase did make a big mistake
Because the Green slop soon faded,
We don’t like Greens so much it seems
When their lustre is stained and faded.

And as it seems folk don’t like Greens
For Jase & co it will end in tears
With de-slection at the next election
And a fervent hope that they disappear

Report this post »

sedwardsESQ says...
10:20pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Idontbelieveit1948 wrote:
Oh dear Jase, finally tumbled have you - people really don't like your Greens, not just because you are a bunch of weirdo zealots but because you have actually done much damage to our city. We really don't want hee any more but here's a parting gift in th form of a nursery rhyme for our times ;-

Jase and Bill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of Green slop,
The bucket broke and drenched the folk
Who couldn’t shift it with sponge or mop.

Jase rushed down and looked around
And collapsed with so much laughter,
Because he’d seen we’d all turned green
And that was what he was after.

Green leader Bill took in his fill
And said to Jase with much flair,
I’ve had enough of all this guff
I think I’ll buzz off and be Mayor

So Jase took charge and gave it large
To travellers and people that do squat,
As Brighton gains yet more cycle lanes,
Our verges and parks all go to pot

Soon folk could tell the terrible smell
Was getting worse all of the time
‘twas all about the slop Greens spout
Gradually turning into slime

Yes, Jase did make a big mistake
Because the Green slop soon faded,
We don’t like Greens so much it seems
When their lustre is stained and faded.

And as it seems folk don’t like Greens
For Jase & co it will end in tears
With de-slection at the next election
And a fervent hope that they disappear
Idontbe, shouldn't it end : "disappear without protest" but I luv it anyway....lol

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BobWiddecombe says...
1:30pm Tue 15 Jan 13

This isnt as crazy as it sounds, greens could form a Lab/LibDem coalition versus a Conservative/UKIP coalition, lets hope that whoever forms the next government really takes transport seriously, my train hasnt run on time in the evening peak since the timetable change on the 30 year old train I am forced to travel on then change onto a 40 year old train with no toilets, (thats after spending 20 mins on a packed out Jubilee line from Stratford) then the train fare went up and the car parking, of course thats when the line isnt blocked between Brighton and Three Bridges and we are forced onto buses that happens more often. Whens this new rail link connecting upto the High Speed Line at Ashford into Thames Gateway and Stratford happening so we dont have to go on cross London Underground journeys from hell! or shall we all just go and work in retail on our fading high streets locally and loose our jobs when they go bust, WH Smiths? Superdrug? Boots anyone...

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sedwardsESQ says...
6:32pm Tue 15 Jan 13

BobWiddecombe wrote:
This isnt as crazy as it sounds, greens could form a Lab/LibDem coalition versus a Conservative/UKIP coalition, lets hope that whoever forms the next government really takes transport seriously, my train hasnt run on time in the evening peak since the timetable change on the 30 year old train I am forced to travel on then change onto a 40 year old train with no toilets, (thats after spending 20 mins on a packed out Jubilee line from Stratford) then the train fare went up and the car parking, of course thats when the line isnt blocked between Brighton and Three Bridges and we are forced onto buses that happens more often. Whens this new rail link connecting upto the High Speed Line at Ashford into Thames Gateway and Stratford happening so we dont have to go on cross London Underground journeys from hell! or shall we all just go and work in retail on our fading high streets locally and loose our jobs when they go bust, WH Smiths? Superdrug? Boots anyone...
Did you know that you could cycle that same journey faster if you fit.

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Just asking! says...
10:45pm Tue 15 Jan 13

If the Greens are going to 'throw everything at Pavilion' does this mean that they have no ambition beyond one constituency? Further proof that they are a one-person band, and that person has to be protected at all costs. I thought they claimed to be the future.

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