THE Green Party has named the candidates hoping to secure votes in Brighton and Hove.

The country’s only Green MP Caroline Lucas is hoping to return to her seat in Parliament – and add neighbouring constituencies as city councillors Phelim MacCafferty and Davy Jones join the race.

As well as announcing their candidates, the Greens yesterday also declared that they were looking to make alliances with Labour, the Lib Dems and the Women’s Equality Party.

Entering the fray in Hove and Portslade, convenor of the Green group of councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council Cllr MacCafferty said: “It’s time for a positive and bold vision for Hove and for serious change.

“Under the watch of a Conservative Government, homelessness in our city has doubled, the environment has been abandoned and we are facing a ‘hard Brexit,’ with a non-existent opposition from Labour. The Greens are the only party to say loud and clear – Brighton and Hove will not stand for this.

“It’s time to send a clear message to Westminster – our city will not endure more years of destructive, divisive Tory leadership.”

Mr Jones ran for Kemptown in 2015 and came behind Conservative MP Simon Kirby, Labour candidate Nancy Platts and Ukip candidate Ian Buchanan, then swapped the ballot box for downward dogs, organising the Brighton Yoga Festival.

Announcing his intention to run yesterday, Mr Jones said: “In 2015, Brighton Kemptown sadly sent a Conservative to Westminster.

“I would not like to see this happen again.

“I know that not all the other parties have yet selected their candidates for the constituency but I would like to open dialogue with any parties who share this view.

“Let us see if, this time around, we can truly make a difference and at the same time send Theresa May the message that her approach to politics, Brexit and public services is not welcome anywhere in our city.”

Party co-leader Ms Lucas said: “The vast majority of people I speak to here in Brighton have had enough of the way politics is going in our country.”