A LIBERAL Democrat candidate for an upcoming by-election has said that he can be the voice to hold councillors to account.

Stewart Stone, who was brought up in Brighton, has been selected by the party to stand in the Rottingdean Coastal by-election, caused by the sudden resignation of Conservative councillor Joe Miller.

Mr Stone, who has a background in finance, HR and recruitment consultancy, stood as a candidate in Thurrock in the last general election, coming third.

He said he relishes the chance to represent residents of Rottingdean and Saltdean and claimed they have been forgotten by the council.

Mr Stone said: “This far-flung outpost of Brighton and Hove City Council has been neglected for too long.

“Our rubbish remains uncollected and our roads and footpath are unmaintained.

“The Greens and Labour seem to alternate administrations, each ruling with the tacit support of the other. Meanwhile, where are the Tories? They represent the national government who are failing the country in so many ways in these difficult times.

“Our city needs a strong liberal and democratic voice. Our councillors need to be held to account. I am to be that voice.”

The by-election in the ward comes after the resignation of Joe Miller for personal reasons earlier this month.

He said that, with plans to marry and move away from the city, “it has become increasingly clear that I no longer have the time required to perform the public duty involved in being a councillor as my consultancy work increases.”

He also said that being a councillor is “a role which you can receive regular abuse from the public and other politicians, and even the occasional death threat or slashed tyre.”

However, he also said: “It has been an honour and a privilege over the past seven years to represent the people of Rottingdean Coastal and Brighton and Hove, the place where I grew up and a place that I love.

The Green Party and the Conservatives have also announced their candidates for the by-election, which is set to take place on May 5, on the same day as voters go to the polls in Worthing, Crawley and Eastbourne.