LABOUR councillors have welcomed Robert Mcintosh to their number after he won a by-election.

Cllr Mcintosh was elected in the Rottingdean Coastal by-election for Brighton and Hove City Council last week, triggered by the sudden resignation of a councillor earlier this year.

He won the seat from the Conservatives, who were pushed into third place by an independent candidate.

Made with Flourish

Labour now have 16 seats on the council, with the Greens remaining the largest party with 20 councillors. The Conservatives now hold 12 seats, with six independent councillors.

Cllr Mcintosh said he felt “honoured and humbled” to have been elected to become the first Labour councillor in the ward’s history.

The Argus: Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP and Cllr Robert Mcintosh celebrating the Rottingdean Coastal by-election resultLloyd Russell-Moyle MP and Cllr Robert Mcintosh celebrating the Rottingdean Coastal by-election result

He said: “I’m eager to get on with my work representing all residents right away, no matter whether they voted for me or not.”

Councillors Carmen Appich and John Allcock, who jointly lead the Labour group, said they were “delighted” to welcome him onto the council and are looking forward to working with him.

He said: “Robert brings years of experience and campaigning for ordinary residents to the table - he will be a powerful voice for the people of Rottingdean Coastal.”

Cllr Mcintosh’s election comes as Labour activists celebrated a historic win in Worthing, where they took control of the council for the first time in local elections last week.

Councillor Rebecca Cooper, the leader of the new administration, thanked residents for their support and for putting their trust in the party.

“We’re ready to work hard for you all,” she said.

Members of the shadow cabinet celebrated the news, with Hove MP and shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Kyle describing the win as “proof that Labour is reconnecting to traditional coastal communities”.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Kyle said: “This is a traditional southern coastal Tory town, like the one I grew up in Bognor. This community decided it wanted something different.

“Business as usual meant not enough progress in the community.

“Simultaneously, there was an alternative being presented.

“What happened here was a combination of brilliant local leadership, a credible alternative, a Tory party that took this community for granted, and a national Labour Party led by Keir Starmer that showed we were an opposition that people here in Worthing could really respect.”