Royal Pavilion

Welcome to Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats' Website.

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THEN BE THE DIFFERENCE.

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Brighton Palace Pier
Brighton Palace Pier

Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats Election News

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Queens Park By-Election

Rüdi Dikty-Daudiyan made his mark in the recent Queen’s Park by-election increasing the Liberal Democrat share of the vote by nearly 50%. Rüdi who is a freelance translator is proud to have made his home in the Queen’s Park and has pledged to continue his work in the ward, although not elected, and looks forward to again meeting the many supporters and well-wishers he met in his recent campaign. 

Rüdi says, “I couldn’t be happier to have made Brighton my home, but like many of our residents, I’m concerned about how it’s being run. The current Labour council has a massive majority, and yet, we’re not seeing the results we deserve. The recent by-election is the sixth to have being held since Labour came into office and in this era of financial cuts and council tax increases places a greater burden on the city's strained resources. It's money that could have been spent on improving pavements, dealing with bins and recycling and anti-social behaviour.

In his spare time, Rüdi plays for the Queen’s Park Tennis Club and volunteers for the Pug Dog Welfare & Rescue Association. He lives in the ward with his husband and their dog Emma.

Rudi
Rudi

Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats and the National Stage

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30/09/2025 - Latest News

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has announced a new, expanded frontbench tea​m:

Leader of the Liberal Democrats - Ed Davey MP
Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson - Daisy Cooper MP
Chief Whip - Wendy Chamberlain MP
Cabinet Office Spokesperson - Lisa Smart MP
Health and Social Care Spokesperson - Helen Morgan MP
Education, Children and Families Spokesperson - Munira Wilson MP
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson - Tim Farron MP
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson - Calum Miller MP
Home Affairs Spokesperson - Max Wilkinson MP
Business Spokesperson - Sarah Olney MP
Justice Spokesperson - Jess Brown-Fuller MP
Women and Equalities Spokesperson - Marie Goldman MP
Energy Security and Net Zero Spokesperson - Pippa Heylings MP
Housing and Communities Spokesperson - Gideon Amos MP
Transport Spokesperson - Olly Glover MP
Science, Innovation and Technology Spokesperson - Victoria Collins MP
Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson - Anna Sabine MP
Defence Spokesperson - James MacCleary MP
Work and Pensions Spokesperson - Steve Darling MP
Scotland Spokesperson - Susan Murray MP
Wales Spokesperson - David Chadwick MP
Northern Ireland Spokesperson - Paul Kohler MP
London Spokesperson - Luke Taylor MP
Primary Care and Cancer Spokesperson - Helen Maguire MP
Care and Carers Spokesperson - Alison Bennett MP
Mental Health Spokesperson - Danny Chambers MP
Universities and Skills Spokesperson - Ian Sollom MP
Schools Spokesperson - Caroline Voaden MP
Immigration and Asylum Spokesperson - Will Forster MP
Trade Spokesperson - Joshua Reynolds MP
International Development Spokesperson - Monica Harding MP
Europe Spokesperson - Al Pinkerton MP
Local Government Spokesperson - Zöe Franklin MP
Rural Affairs Spokesperson - Sarah Dyke MP
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury - Charlie Maynard MP
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons - Bobby Dean MP
Shadow Attorney General - Ben Maguire MP
Deputy Chief Whip - Tom Morrison MP


Local Politics

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B & H Liberal Democrats condemn the council intention to close 3 valuable community libraries. 

City Council to deprive local children and communities of access to internet and learning facilities so that they can continue to spend on vanity projects.

Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats strongly condemn the way in which Brighton and Hove City Council has approached the requirement to make savings of £210,000 to the library service. The Council put out to consultation in April the idea of closing three libraries – Rottingdean, Hollingbury and Westdene - and to reduce the opening hours at Jubilee and Hove libraries. 

Despite saying that no decision has been made the Council has asked residents for alternative suggestions for running libraries as community hubs without local government funding. This obviously suggests that the decision has already been taken to close the libraries and the council is just going through a meaningless consultation. 

Libraries are at the heart of our communities. They are particularly important for children so that they develop and nurture a love of reading. For those on low incomes they are a lifeline. It is a place where those without access to the internet at home can come and use a computer with free Wi-fi. 

This consultation will close on 10th October, and a final decision will be made in December, after which the libraries will probably close. Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign, alongside other groups, against closure.

Libraries destined for closure
Libraries destined for closure

Petitions for you to sign

The Kemptown Ward Team have set up two petitions for you to sign. They are calling on the Council to improve facilities at Blackrock and support local businesses in St George's Road with better parking.

Toilets at Black Rock

Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats know only too well the importance of ensuring our visitors, residents and businesses have the most basic of needs met, even more so in developing areas such as Black Rock, where new businesses are sprouting up with no additional facilities to support an increase in visitors to the area.

Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats call upon Brighton and Hove City Council to urgently ensure that there are toilet facilities in the Black Rock area that are accessible for all.

You can support this by signing the petition:

via Change.org petition: 

https://chng.it/gmmWYFBnL6  

or via BHCC petition: 

https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=964&RPID=166903062&HPID=166903062

 

Parking along St George's Road, Kemptown 

Kemptown Liberal Democrats are saddened to see that the St George's Road area of Kemptown is again being let down by this Labour administration.

Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats call upon Brighton and Hove City Council to look at the parking restrictions along St George's Road to see how we can support local businesses in implementing a 2 hour free parking option for those visiting the cafes, salons, independent businesses and shops.

You can support this by signing the petition: 

via Change.org: 

https://www.change.org/p/parking-along-st-george-s-road-kemptown?recruiter=1375400203&recruited_by_id=85f887c0-4089-11f0-8802-11e39190a7bc&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_medium=copylink 

or via the BHCC website: 

https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=962&RPID=166903231&HPID=166903231 

Local Government Reorganisation

Is local government really being devolved or is it in fact being centralised to hand more power to central government?

As the Labour Government releases more decisions and information on its proposed reforms Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats raise questions on what is really happening. With the new Mayoral Authority for Sussex receiving the go ahead from Central Government, B & H lib Dems ask how taking powers away from our local council can be described as devolution. The proposals to do away with local parish councils mean that authorities such as Rottingdean Parish Council will cease to exist and with it so will the powers of local people to have a say in the running of their local environment. Many of the powers currently held by our City Council will be transferred to the new Mayoral Authority which means that local people will have less say in the management of their city. None of this fits the bill of handing more power locally. In addition we question whether the proposed authorities will be as independent as we are led to believe. Common sense suggests that central government may well end up controlling the new authorities via their funding allocations and as such influence their policies.

Council Chamber Monitor

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The goings on in and of our City Council

City Hall Politics from a Liberal Democrat perspective.

  • Labour council now seeking major change to how our city is run without first consulting the people it is responsible to, ‘The Voter’. Once again the Labour administration shows its contempt for the people of the city or the democratic process.
  • As the Council faces the prospect of a £36 million shortfall in its budget next year it continues to waste money on the Valley Gardens project which it is estimated will cost £6.5 million. A project that no one voted for and which the transport providers have said will only make it more difficult for services around that area.
  • With the proposal to introduce cabinet government to the city we ask how will the checks and balances be introduced and will they be enough to ensure good decision making?
  • How will the people of the city have a say in the management of their city once their councillors are deprived of their voice as valuable committees disappear?
  • Why has consultation not taken place properly? Were you asked about the proposal? There are lots of claims but no evidence that councils are better for introducing cabinet government.
  • A Freedom of Information request has disclosed the cost of changing to a Cabinet form of administration for the City is expected to cost £80,000 and that is without any cabinet councillor allowance increases. As government cutbacks dig deeper into local authority finances all this Labour administration can do is seek further ways to waste more council tax payers' money.
  • Despite overwhelming opposition to the Valley Gardens extension the council insists on going ahead with the £6.5 million project. One more example of how little Labour listens to the voice of those who live and work in the City.

Pothole in the city causing you a problem? Contact the council and tell them about it https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/travel-and-road-safety/roads-and-highways/pavement-and-road-repairs

City Council Hall

Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats and You.

Come and enjoy yourself and meet other people with a passion for life and those around them.

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Monthly Coffee Mornings

Come and meet us. We get together each month for a coffee morning; Just choose which constituency you would like to get to know and turn up and treat yourself to a coffee or tea and a chat. For details for each constituency, Hove & Portslade, Kemptown & Peacehaven, or Pavilion go to our Events page for more details on the coffee morning you would like to attend.

The Bath Arms in the Lanes

Inn Politics

The latest Get Together of Inn Politics took place on 13 February 2025 at St. George's Inn, 33 Sudeley Street, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1HE, it started at 7:00 pm for the early birds and went on until 9.30 pm for the night birds. There was much talk about local politics and the changes taking place as people shared their experiences and discussed the general political scene as well as catching up on local happenings.

Details of next Inn Politics event will be published as soon as they become available.

All are welcome and it will be a great chance to find out more about what is happening for Lib Dems locally.

 

Adelfia

Politics & Prosecco

Join us in the fizzy discovery of matching food and wine with politics and socialising.

We find out just how good our local restaurants are at enticing our taste buds whilst we explore through discourse the latest gossip meandering through local politics, with the odd diversion into the world of Westminster.

Our next event is due to be held at Adelfia, 13-14 Preston Street, Brighton, BN1 2HN on 19 March. Starting time is 7.00 pm.

As places are usually limited booking is essential. For more information and how to book go to our events page.


--- Local Liberal Democrat News ---


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The Liberal Democrats may use the information you provide, including your political opinions, to further our objectives and share it with our elected representatives. Any data we gather will be used in accordance with our privacy policy: libdems.org.uk/privacy. You can exercise your rights and withdraw your consent to future communications by contacting us: data.protection@libdems.org.uk or: DPO, Lib Dems, 66 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AU.

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