The 2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Brighton and Hove City Council, England. This was at the same time as other local elections in England. Due to a boundary review, there was a change in ward boundaries, but the city council continued to comprise 54 members.
The council had been under no overall control prior to the election, being run by a Green minority administration led by Phélim Mac Cafferty. At this election Labour gained several extra seats to win an overall majority, whilst the Greens lost several seats, including Mac Cafferty's.
Background
The outcome of the 2019 election in the city saw the Labour Party form a minority administration, with support from the Green Party of England and Wales. This shifted following resignations and expulsions of councillors from the Labour Party, leading to the Green Party forming a minority administration instead, with their leader Phélim Mac Cafferty being appointed leader of the council in July 2020.
In 2022, the selection process in the major parties and political groupings in Brighton began. Of the 16 Labour councillors, 7 announced that they were standing down at the next election. This included the co-leaders of the Labour group, Carmen Appich and John Allcock, and previous leaders Nancy Platts and Daniel Yates.
In 2022, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England undertook a review of ward boundaries in the city. Following the review, there were 23 wards across the council, an increase of two, and only five wards remained the same. The overall number of seats on the council stayed the same at 54.
At the 2023 election Labour won a majority on the council for the first time since 1999. After the election, with the previous Labour leaders having not stood for re-election, the party selected Bella Sankey to be its new leader. She was formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023.
Summary
Pre-election composition
+PartySeatsGreen Party of England and Wales20Labour Party16Conservative Party11Independents7
Election result
Ward results
Phélim Mac Cafferty and Hannah Allbrooke were sitting councillors for Brunswick and Adelaide ward.
Brunswick and Adelaide
Central Hove
Coldean and Stanmer
Goldsmid
Jackie O'Quinn was a sitting councillor for Goldsmid ward
Hangleton and Knoll
Hanover and Elm Grove
Steph Powell was a sitting councillor for Hanover & Elm Grove ward
Hollingdean and Fiveways Siriol Hugh-Jones was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward, Zoe John and Theresa Fowler in Hollingdean and Stanmer and Jamie Lloyd in Withdean.
Kemptown
Moulsecoomb and Bevendean Amanda Evans was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward
North Portslade
Patcham and Hollingbury
Preston Park Leo Littman was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward and Steve Davis was a sitting councillor for Withdean.
Queen's Park Clare Rainey was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward.
Regency
Rottingdean and West Saltdean Bridget Fishleigh was previously elected as an Independent, but was re-elected as a member of the Brighton and Hove Independents.
Round Hill Pete West was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine.
South Portslade
West Hill and North Laine Sue Shanks was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine ward.
Westbourne and Poets' Corner
Westdene and Hove Park Samer Bagaeen was a sitting councillor in the former Hove Park ward.
Whitehawk and Marina
Wish
Woodingdean
Steve Bell and Dee Simson were sitting councillors for Woodingdean ward.
Changes 2023–2027 Samer Bagaeen, elected as a Conservative councillor, left the party in April 2024 to sit as an independent. Bruno De Oliveira, elected as a Labour councillor, left the party in February 2025 to sit as an independent. Ty Galvin, elected as a Labour councillor, was suspended from the party in November 2025 and chose to sit as an independent. Bruno De Oliveira, previously an Independent and Labour councillor, joined the Green Party in January 2026. Birgit Miller, elected as a Labour councillor, left the party in August 2026 to sit as an independent.
By-Elections
South Portslade The South Portslade by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Les Hamilton.
Queen's Park (2024) The Queen's Park by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Chandni Mistry.
Kemptown The Kemptown by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Bharti Gajjar.
Brunswick and Adelaide The Brunswick and Adelaide by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Jilly Stevens due to ill health.
Westbourne & Poets' Corner The Westbourne & Poets' Corner by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Leslie Pumm due to health reasons.
Queen's Park (2025) The Queen's Park by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Tristram Burden, whose new role as a local authority inspector for the Care Quality Commission created a conflict of interest.
Goldsmid The Goldsmid by-election followed the resignation of Labour councillor Jackie O'Quinn, a former mayor who left the Labour Party over policy disagreements and subsequently resigned from the council.
Queen's Park (2026) The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Milla Gauge, who cited ignorance regarding safeguarding concerns as the reason for her resignationhttps://www.scenemag.co.uk/labour-councillor-milla-gauge-quits-brighton-hove-council-after-feeling-ignored/. Gauge herself was elected in a by-election for Queen's Park ward on 2nd May 2024.
References