Seven candidates are standing in a by-election in South Portslade for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council today.

The seat became vacant when Labour councillor Les Hamilton resigned.

The seven candidates are Danny John Booth (Green), Benjamin James Franks (Conservative), Jamie Rutherford Gillespie (Independent), Josh Guilmant (Labour), David Timothy Maples (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition), Georgia Arabella McKinley Fitch (Democratic Liberation Party) and Kenneth Lloyd Rist (Liberal Democrats).

Each candidate received questions about local issues submitted by the public and were asked why they wanted to represent the ward. Below are the responses from Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate David Maples, 64, a housing officer.

Why do you want to be a councillor?

I don’t want to be a conventional councillor. I want to be a voice of the community. Councillors who vote for cuts will come into conflict with the community.

I am fed up with councillors saying they have to make “difficult decisions” and cutting services. The “difficult decision” they need to make is to fight for the resources their wards need.

This means playing a part in a mass campaign to force government to provide sufficient funding.

Read about other candidates below:

  • Danny Booth (Green Party) - read about him HERE
  • Benjamin Franks (Conservative Party) - read about him HERE
  • Jamie Gillespie (Independent)
  • Josh Guilmant (Labour) - read about him HERE
  • Georgia McKinley-Fitch (Democratic Liberation Party) - read about her HERE