An area of the city has become completely independent in an afternoon of high drama at the Brighton Centre.

Brighton and Hove Independent candidates Mark Frederick Earthey and Bridget Fishleigh have been elected as councillors for the Rottingdean & West Saltdean ward in an election that has seen the Independent party take both seats.

The voter turnout for this ward stands at 4,299, or 51.5% of an electorate of 8,349.

You can read the latest from the count as the results are announced in our election live blog here. 

 

Meanwhile, it has been reported that there are concerns for Green party members as rumours of a Labour party “rout” sweep across Brighton and Hove.

Raphael Hill, a Green councillor, has made history by being voted in as the first-ever out transgender councillor for Round Hill, along with his colleague, long-serving Green councillor Pete West.

Turnout for the ward was 39.4%.

 

Despite this success for the Greens, rumours continue to circulate that the party could face a devastating defeat to Labour, with reports claiming that the party has swept wards such as Goldsmid, Kemptown, and Hollingdean and Fiveways.

Rumours have also surfaced that Green council leader, Phelim Mac Cafferty could be in danger of losing his seat to Labour.

Meanwhile, the Labour party has made significant gains across the city, with victories in Coldean and Stanmer, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, and Woodingdean.

Jacob Allen and Jacqui Simon have won the seat of Woodingdean, ending the long-serving reign of Conservative councillors Steve Bell and Dee Simson.

Rumours also suggest that both Woodingdean seats have been won by Labour, potentially causing Steve Bell to lose his own seat.

Labour sources have confirmed that the party is very confident, with concerns only arising over the North Portslade ward, where two former Labour councillors who are now independent are standing for re-election.

Elsewhere, reports suggest that the Green party bubble may have “burst,” with residents in Green strongholds reportedly “voting with their feet”.

Although it is widely expected that the Greens will defend their Hanover and Elm Grove wards from Labour, the Labour party is targeting several wards.

By-election victories in Wish and the former Rottingdean Coastal ward have provided Labour with a chance to take seats from the Conservatives in Hangleton and Knoll, Wish, and Woodingdean.

There are reports of voters splitting their votes across different parties, with multiple candidates claiming that votings have selected various parties on the ballot.

Labour has retained control in Worthing, gaining three seats and increasing its majority.

As more results are announced, Green MP Caroline Lucas has yet to be spotted at the count in Brighton and Hove, where a total of 47 seats are yet to be declared.

Turnout for the city stands at 40.8% of residents, down from 42.7% in 2019.

Across the county, results from Chichester suggest that the Liberal Democrats are making gains in historically Tory wards such as Fittleworth and Petworth, indicating that the party could be challenging the Conservatives for control of the council.