A newly-elected Labour councillor said the party will fight for overall control of the city council next year after winning a council seat from the Conservatives.

Bella Sankey won the Wish ward by-election in a landslide victory, beating the Conservative candidate Peter Revell by more than 750 votes.

In a victory speech shortly after her election was announced, Ms Sankey said: “The message of this by-election and the message we have heard repeatedly from residents is that they are angered by the neglect that they are feeling from the government in Westminster and they are frustrated by the stagnation they are feeling here in our city.

She thanked residents “for putting their trust and confidence in me” and said: “I will work every single day to listen to them, to stand up for them, and to create the change they want to see.”

The by-election will likely be the last test of support for the main political parties ahead of elections across the city in around six months’ time.

Ms Sankey said: “Labour will be campaigning not just to be the biggest party on the city council, but to take overall control, so we can become a city that is fair, sustainable and where everyone can live with dignity and thrive.”

Brighton and Hove City Council has been in no overall control since 2003.

Ms Sankey’s election gives Labour a total of 16 councillors, with the Greens retaining the most seats with 20. The Conservatives have 11 councillors, with seven independents.

A total of 28 councillors is needed for an overall majority on the council.

Hove MP Peter Kyle celebrated the result as a “staggering achievement”.

He said: “Bella ran an energetic and empathetic campaign and I know she’ll represent residents with the same values at heart. I am extremely proud of her achievement.

“Labour with Keir Starmer is priding the positive change people are crying out for across the country and that goes for us in Brighton and Hove too.”

The by-election was triggered following the death of Conservative councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn in September, who had served as a council representative in Hove for 50 years.

Ms Sankey paid tribute to Mr Peltzer Dunn and said: “I know from speaking with residents that he was an incredibly decent man and he is very much missed.”

The by-election result is the second Labour gain on Brighton and Hove City Council this year after the party won a seat in Rottingdean Coastal in May.