Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty has announced he will stand for re-election at the city-wide local election in May.

Cllr Mac Cafferty, who represents the Green Party, will run for a fourth term on Brighton and Hove City Council alongside deputy council leader Hannah Allbrooke in the Brunswick and Adelaide ward when voters go to the polls later this year.

He said: “Over the last few years, we’ve relentlessly focused on tackling the key issues facing the city.

"Despite 12 years of Conservative government corruption and cuts, which have taken a sledgehammer to our budget, we have made steady progress in making Brighton and Hove a greener and fairer place.

“All at the same time as a crippling pandemic, the cost of living crisis, the disastrous mini-budget, the highest inflation in a generation and a recession.

“There is more work to be done and we are hungry for more success, jobs and a sustainable environment for the city.

“Having represented the communities in Brunswick and Adelaide for the last 11 years, I want to use my experience and focus to ensure the council continues to deliver what we can and what is best for the community, in the difficult times we’re living.”

Cllr Allbrooke, who was first elected at the last local election in 2019, said she was “delighted” to be running again to represent the Green Party in the ward.

She said: “This bustling area of the city is one that benefits from incredibly engaged communities that I love working alongside.

“Many of our residents also give huge amounts of their time to make their area better and to organise events for the benefit of the community, due to the loss of resources the council can provide against the backdrop of 12 years of vicious Tory cuts.

“I have enjoyed my time as a councillor over the last few years and feel we have made real progress towards creating a fairer Brighton and Hove, but there is so much more to be done and the rising costs of living will only make this work more important.

“I hope residents will re-elect me so I can continue working to make our city fairer for those who need our support the most.”

The party has also announced for seven other wards in the city ahead of the city-wide elections in May:

  • Hollingdean and Fiveways: Cllr Zoe John, Cllr Siriol Hugh-Jones and Cllr Jamie Lloyd
  • Kemptown: Lynn-Ora Knott and Ben Simmonds
  • Preston Park: Cllr Steve Davis, Cllr Leo Littman and Kerry Pickett
  • Queen’s Park: Cllr Clare Rainey and Mark Strong
  • Regency: Aditi Bhonagiri and Ricky Perrin
  • Round Hill: Cllr Pete West and Raphael Hill
  • West Hill and North Laine: Cllr Sue Shanks and Ellen McLeay

Residents from across Brighton and Hove will elect 54 councillors across 23 wards on May 4, with many wards redrawn following a boundary review.

There are currently 20 Green councillors on Brighton and Hove City Council, with 16 Labour councillors, 11 Conservatives and seven independents.