Eighties pop star Alison Moyet has thrown her support behind a Facebook campaign where Brighton and Hove residents have declared independence from the UK.

The Argus reported on Saturday how more than 12,000 people had joined The People’s Republic of Brighton and Hove page.

It was set up after the city returned the only south east Green and Labour MPs in the general election with everywhere else electing Conservative MPs.

The page is light-hearted but creative residents have come up with various policies and even a flag.

Under their plan, Green and Labour voters in the surrounding Conservative constituencies would be classed as expats, while Conservative voters would be given the right to stay.

Moyet retweeted the Argus story on Twitter and was challenged by a tweeter who said the idea was a waste of time.

The star, who lives in Brighton, responded: “Speak for yourself. Better to vote for what you believe than to tweet for what you don't. X” Moyet was a member of the group Yazoo in the 1980s, who had hits with Only You and Don’t Go before she went on to have a solo career with songs including Lover Resurrection and All Cried Out.

She performed at Live Aid in 1985 and still performs.