Green and Independent councillors have slammed Labour for “significantly
weakening” a motion that would have committed Brighton & Hove City Council to
recognising nature as a legal subject with inherent rights.

At full council last week, Green and Independent councillors jointly brought a notice
of motion, calling on the council to formally endorse the UK Nature’s Rights Bill, sign
a pledge supporting its principles, write to government urging the Bill to be tabled in
Parliament, and work with communities on a Rights of the Coastline charter for our
city.

However, a Labour amendment removed these commitments. The amended motion
limits the council to merely “noting” the principles of the movement and the Nature’s
Rights Bill, referencing existing government environmental policies and current
council activity.

Labour’s amendment means the final motion contrasts with developments elsewhere
in Sussex. Lewes District Council is working with local communities on a Charter of
Rights for the River Ouse, exploring how legal recognition of the river’s fundamental
rights can improve its protection within governance frameworks.

Green councillor Kerry Pickett, who proposed the motion, said the amendment
fundamentally changed its purpose:
“This motion was about recognising that existing environmental law is failing and that
we need a new legal framework that gives nature rights. Labour removed every
concrete step that would have supported that shift.

“Lewes is already demonstrating how a rights-based approach can be explored
locally and collaboratively. Brighton & Hove had the opportunity to do the same for
our downland, green spaces and coastline and Labour chose not to.”

Independent councillor Mark Earthy who seconded the motion said:
“The Nature’s Right’s Bill is consistent with our city’s groundbreaking natural
environment and sustainability strategy and can be seen as a logical extension of it.
Endorsement by a city of our size would make people sit up and take notice.”

NOTES
The UK Nature’s Rights Bill follows the “Integrated Rights Framework”, which
recognises nature as a rights-bearing legal subject and places human and economic
activity within ecological limits. This approach represents a structural response to
environmental collapse, rather than further reliance on regulatory targets that have
repeatedly failed to stop biodiversity loss.

Labour’s amendment referenced the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan
and conservation work. While Greens welcome these policies, they do not address
the underlying legal model that treats nature as property rather than giving it
enforceable rights

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Bold Politics is the show making hope normal again, where Zack Polanski speaks – and listens – to thinkers, activists and people whose voices deserve to be heard. From immigration to the economy, inequality to leadership, Zack explores what the future of progressive politics can look like.

Join two of the Green Party’s most influential and inspiring figures for an evening of discussion and audience questions.

**If you are in a position to do so, please consider adding an optional donation to Brighton & Hove Green Party. We can only win Green MPs in Hove & Portslade and Kemptown & Peacehaven, to join our MP Sian Berry in Brighton Pavilion, if we have the resources to carry out a winning campaign. By donating to our election fighting fund, you’ll be helping us build a fairer, more hopeful future for Brighton & Hove!

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After 3 years of Labour majority administration, and 2 years of a Labour majority government, one thing above all is becoming clear: people want change. Since September, more than 100,000 new members have joined the Green Party nationally, while each new poll shows the Greens climb higher while Labour drop lower. Locally, our membership has almost trebled, and continues to grow every single day. 

Bruno is yet another example that more and more people who believe that change isn’t just possible, but necessary, are finding their political home in the Green Party. With just over a year to go to the 2027 local elections in our city, Labour must take note of the impact of their failure to represent the people of Brighton & Hove.

Councillor de Oliveira was chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board on the City Council from his election as a Labour councillor for Hollingdean & Fiveways in May 2023 to his resignation from the Labour over their cuts to the aid budget, and brings a wealth of experience to the Green Group of councillors on Brighton & Hove City Council.

Bruno de Oliveira, new Green councillor for Hollingdean & Fiveways, said:

“I joined the Green Party because I refuse a politics that tells us we live on an island of strangers. The current system enriches a few while millions struggle, then it blames the most vulnerable in society to distract from rising inequality. 

Greens offer a hopeful alternative: a society built on peace, housing, and affordability. The notion of neutrality can be misleading and naive. It is time for a change; it is time for economic justice. The idea that we have to deal with the world as it is, not as we wish it were, aims to prevent us from building a fairer society. 

Imagine someone telling Martin Luther King Jr to put his civil rights dreams away. A revolution starts with a mere dream of the world we want to live in, and not as it is, and I, like most of you, have a dream of a fairer society.”

Steve Davis, Green Leader of the Opposition, said:

“It is an absolute pleasure to have a councillor of the calibre of Bruno de Oliveira join our growing number of Green councillors in the chamber as he brings with him not only a wealth of experience but a genuine passion for the city.

As we have seen up and down the country people aren’t leaving Labour, Labour are leaving people, and this is another clear indication that we are the party of real hope and real change. 

At full council next week we welcome to the chamber what we hope is one of many more new Green councillors to represent the city, and bring our shared ideas and hope.”

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The image itself is beneath contempt. Yet it is even more terrifying to reflect that for Reform UK, this is nothing new. This act of antisemitism represents only the latest demonstration of Reform’s openly racist and fascist platform. Nationally, they have been at the forefront of fuelling a rising tide of hatred, and discrimination. And on Reform UK Brighton & Hove’s Facebook, this antisemitic attack on Zack Polanski was followed yesterday by a further racist graphic declaring New York Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to be a terrorist. 

Brighton & Hove remains a city that is anti-racist, anti-fascist and that stands firm against hatred. Two weeks ago, Brighton & Hove Greens were proud to join more than 600 people at the Stand Up to Racism Unity March. We note that this follows our own party members being subjected to explicit antisemitic abuse in the public gallery during a council meeting earlier in the month. We will continue to stand against antisemitism and racism in any form – and stand in solidarity with Zack Polanski against such abuse.

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There can be no question that Simon Charleton’s comments are beyond unacceptable. As a city, Brighton & Hove stands firm in holding values of inclusivity, in standing alongside marginalised communities against discrimination and hatred, and in our City of Sanctuary status. Brighton & Hove Greens stand in full solidarity with trans and non-binary residents, and against the ‘hostile environment’ that Labour continue to operate.

At a time when migrants are being demonised, and where trans people are used as political scapegoats both in the media and by establishment political parties, Brighton & Hove Labour must answer for why they have selected a candidate who so clearly stands against the values of our city, and whether his views reflect their own. 

Posts shared by Simon Charleton include content echoing false, far-right narratives around small boats and immigration, as well as further posts that amplify cruel, transphobic talking points. Brighton Kemptown, where Queen’s Park is situated, has one of the highest proportions of trans people in England and residents deserve to know exactly where the Labour candidate stands on these issues of human rights and equalities. 

Labour council leader Bella Sankey has previously gone against her national party’s anti-trans narrative, including her defence of the vital Trans Inclusion Toolkit, and deserves credit for this. But she must now explain why she is enthusiastically campaigning for a Labour candidate who has publicly spoken against this resource. If she is prepared to support a candidate who is not only unwilling to support our trans and non-binary residents, but who is actively participating in discrimination against them, then questions must be asked about how sincere her solidarity really is.

An urgent clarification is needed as to whether these views are accepted by Brighton & Hove Labour Party.

Notes for editors:
Posts made by Simon Charleton are documented here: https://x.com/PinkieBrighton/status/1962437220406546748 

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Labour is abandoning our city. This is the 6th local council by-election in Brighton & Hove in two years, all of which have been caused by resignations of Labour councillors. This is the 2nd in Queen’s Park alone, with both Labour councillors elected in 2023 now having stepped down. Voters across the country are abandoning Labour, and in Queen’s Park we’ve already been hearing on the doorstep that people are putting their trust in us as the only bold and necessary alternative.

Marina and the Green Party will be fighting this election to work hard, speak up and get things done for our communities, which have been let down by a Labour-run council that refuses to speak out for our city or stand up to Keir Starmer’s shameful leadership. Whilst Labour councillors are too scared to challenge their own government, Greens will never stop speaking up for local people.

Marina, who works as a teacher and researcher, lives locally and has worked in the ward. Marina is an active campaigner, having fought previously for housing and land reform, as well as supporting neurodiverse communities and charities.

Labour have shown they cannot be trusted to put the people of Brighton & Hove first. The Green Party are the only party offering a real answer: introduce a wealth tax on the top 1%  and take on destructive corporations like Southern Water so that we can invest in a city that ordinary people can actually afford. 

Marina will speak up for every resident, fight for improvements to basics such as bin collections, social housing, and playgrounds, push back against Brighton College’s endless expansion, call for rent controls to bring down spiralling rents, demand action on protecting trans and disabled rights and an end to complicity in genocide.

Marina Lademacher, Green Party candidate for Queen’s Park says:
“I’m delighted to have been selected as the Green candidate for Queen’s Park. I’ve already been out speaking to residents who feel abandoned by the Labour Party and are clear that they want a real alternative to Labour austerity – someone who will listen to and speak out for them. We need truly affordable housing, rent controls, an end to homelessness and for the wealthiest to finally pay their fair share. If elected, I’ll never stop working to fight for the fairer, more equal Brighton and Hove we all deserve.”

Sian Berry MP, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion says:
“I have seen just how hard Marina works and cares about the local community. With huge public support and momentum behind her campaign and the Greens, she will soon be an amazing councillor, and another vital opposition voice to Labour in our city.”

Councillor Steve Davis, Green Group Convenor & Leader of the Opposition says:
“Marina is the absolute epitome of hard work and passion and would make an excellent councillor for Queen’s Park. Given this is the sixth by-election the administration has landed on residents in two years, Queen’s Park residents have the opportunity to vote for someone who will stay the distance and represent them with real passion.”

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Siân Berry MP and Cllr Chloë Goldsmith, along with local campaigners and charities, have written to the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Bella Sankey, asking that she take action and cancel the booking of Brian Warner, who goes by the stage name Marilyn Manson.

Warner has been accused of multiple allegations of sexual assault, grooming, and domestic violence, but was not prosecuted in the USA as it was determined they fell outside the statute of limitations. With children as young as 14 able to attend the event, the letter highlights serious safeguarding concerns that this raises.

Signatories of the letter are also deeply concerned about the message it sends to survivors in the city, for someone with all of these allegations against him to be allowed to perform at the city’s biggest publicly-owned venue. The majority of sexual assault cases in both the US and the UK do not result in a prosecution.

In addition to the cancellation of the the booking, the letter asks that the council works with residents to develop an Indoor Events Policy and to review how decisions on which acts to book are made, to prevent cases like these in future.

The co-signatories to the letter are: Lucy May from Reclaim the Night Brighton & Hove; Helen Race from Survivors Network; members of the Queery Collective; and Full Time Officers at University of Sussex Students Union.

Letter to Cllr Bella Sankey, Labour Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council

Siân Berry MP
Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

06 June 2025

Cllr Bella Sankey
Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council
By Email

Dear Bella,

We are writing to you as a group of local elected representatives, charities, and campaigners to call for Brighton and Hove City Council to use its influence as the owner of the Brighton Centre to cancel the proposed hosting of a performance of Brian Warner, known as Marilyn Manson, on 29 October 2025.

We believe it is also against our city’s well-renowned values for Brighton and Hove City Council to benefit financially from this performance and, although costs may ensue, the local authority has the power to cancel this booking as it owns and operates the Brighton Centre. We also believe there are clear safeguarding risks to attendees and more broadly by allowing this concert to go ahead. We are deeply concerned that this show has an age restriction that means children as young as 14 can attend.

Warner has been accused of multiple allegations of sexual assault, grooming and domestic violence. It is the case that prosecutors in the USA have determined these accusations fall outside of the statute of limitations, but this does not preclude any conclusions being drawn about risks.

We also recognise the courage of the women who came forward to make reports and share their experiences. It is important to note that in the United States, as is also the case in the UK, the vast majority of perpetrators of sexual violence will not be prosecuted.¹

There are multiple policies in place within the City Council that are relevant to considering
this issue, including:

1. The 2024-2028 document, Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, and sexual violence, which says the Council is: “committed to listening and responding to the needs of survivors in our city.”²
2. The current City Plan, which makes clear there is: “no place in our city for fear of crime, violence, or abuse” and that the Council will seek to ensure that Brighton and Hove is a place where everyone feels safe.³
3. The 2013 Outdoor Events Policy, which includes criteria for approval including: “The ability to demonstrate commitment to Brighton and Hove City Council’s equal opportunities statement,” and: “Impact of the event on regular users of public spaces, stakeholders and local residents.” This policy is not strictly for indoor events of this kind, but its provisions are relevant to the wider area and should be applied.⁴

It is clear that this proposed performance has implications that risk breaching all these policies, and we believe you have strong grounds for reconsidering this decision. Many survivors in Brighton and Hove, and organisations supporting them, will have very serious concerns about this booking and its impact on other people visiting the city centre, local residents and the wider community.

Freedom of expression is an important principle that should be defended, including in relation to artists, but there is an obvious risk to community cohesion and the council has separate equalities obligations to foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and people who do not share them. The Council has a responsibility to take action where there are risks of discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

The level and nature of the accusations against Warner are concerning enough alone, but so too is the message sent out by providing a platform for this individual, at our city’s biggest publicly owned venue, and what this will mean to survivors.

We understand that leading cabinet members have admitted this booking is ‘problematic’ but that they will not consider cancelling the performance. And we understand that cancellation may have financial implications, although the proposed performance is still several months away. We believe a solution must be found and that, despite these difficulties, the Council should act in line with its obligations to our values and the serious concerns around public safety and community cohesion. As Leader of the Council we ask you to:

• Work with the legal and events teams within Brighton and Hove City Council to seek advice on options to cancel this booking.
• Review how the council makes decisions on which acts to book at its venues, and involve elected representatives where there are concerns.
• Develop an Indoor Events Policy, working with residents and councillors to put in place similar criteria as for outdoor events on Council property, in order to prevent similar issues with future bookings.
• Meet with survivors organisations and campaigners to discuss this event and how we as a city can take action.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Siân Berry MP
Green Party, Brighton Pavilion

Co-signed by:

Notes

1. The U.S based RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organisation, reports that out of every 1,000 sexual assaults, only 50 cases will lead to arrest and 975 perpetrators will ultimately walk free: https://rainn.org/statistics/criminal-justice-system ↩︎
2. Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWGDASV) – Strategic Direction 2024 – 2028 Brighton and Hove City Council https://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/documents/s200096/VAWGDASV%20Strategic%20Direction%202024%20to%202028%20APX.%20n%201.pdf This states among its objectives: Prioritising prevention to end VAWGDASV through a collaborative approach to awareness raising, data and information sharing, capacity building, education, and communication campaigns,” and says that: “Brighton & Hove City Council is committed to listening and responding to the needs of survivors in our city. We will work with partners and our communities to continue to engage, listen and collaborate to codevelop and co-deliver our strategic approach” ↩︎
3. Brighton and Hove Council Plan 2023-2027, https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-
   09/Council%20Plan%202023%20to%202027.pdf. This aims for a: “fair and inclusive city where people feel
   safe, included and welcome.” ↩︎
4. Outdoor Events Policy 2013. Brighton and Hove City Council, 2013. https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/migrated/article/inline/PDF%20D-08%20Outdoor%20Events%20Policy%20v6.pdf ↩︎

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Green Party councillors are calling on the Labour administration to take immediate action on what they are calling “shambolic” failures in the council’s implementation of their glyphosate opt-out scheme. Multiple groups of residents, who went through the process of opting out their roads and were prepared to manually de-weed paths themselves, have seen the council go back on its promises and had glyphosate sprayed outside their houses against their wishes.

Glyphosate is a herbicide, which was previously banned in Brighton & Hove under the 2019 Labour administration, following a public campaign. It has been identified as being ‘probably carcinogenic’¹ and has known impacts on the environment and biodiversity, with some campaigners linking its use to falling numbers of starlings in the city². 

Labour re-introduced the use of glyphosate in Brighton & Hove last year, going against a promise in their own manifesto, which described the chemical as ‘harmful’. Calls at the time from Greens and other campaigners, to allow concerned residents to opt their streets out of being sprayed, were ignored. Earlier this year, the Labour administration finally relented and announced a limited opt-out scheme, which many streets signed up to.

Greens Councillors are demanding that the council urgently stop their contractors from spraying glyphosate on opted-out streets and publish a full list of roads that are in the opt-out scheme, so residents can see what parts of the city shouldn’t be sprayed. They are also calling for an investigation into how these streets were erroneously sprayed in the first place and for Labour to publicly apologise to residents whose wishes have been ignored.

Kerry Pickett, Green Shadow Member for Environment said:

“People have been severely let down by Labour’s failures in implementing this much-requested opt-out scheme, which already came a year too late. Residents have gone through the effort of collecting signatures and organising volunteers, in return for a promise that their streets won’t be sprayed with toxic chemicals.To then break this promise is a huge betrayal of trust.

“Labour need to take urgent action to stop their contractors from spraying on streets that were supposed to be protected, and publish a full list of opted-out streets. Residents deserve answers as to how this was allowed to happen and need a full apology for being so badly let down by the council.”

NOTES

1. Glyphosate – Pesticide Action Network: https://www.pan-uk.org/glyphosate/ ↩︎
2. Brighton: Starling numbers have ‘halved’ since weedkiller used again – The Argus https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25005140.brighton-starling-numbers-halved-since-weedkiller-used/ ↩︎

Contact

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After fifteen years of austerity under Conservative and now Labour rule, it is clear that people in Brighton & Hove are being pushed to the brink. In choosing to make further attacks on disabled people and the welfare system, Labour are making a political choice that will have brutal, potentially fatal consequences. Across the country, Labour councillors in Wakefield, Dudley and beyond are resigning in protest, and more than 42 Labour MPs^[1] have now said they will rebel against the governments plans, following a letter by Sian Berry, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion to all Labour MPs calling on them to do so.^[2]

Brighton & Hove Greens today bring this demand directly to Brighton & Hove Labour MPs Chris Ward (Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven) and Peter Kyle (Hove & Portslade). We ask whether they, as senior members of the Labour government, will show that they are willing to stand up for Brighton & Hove residents and vote against the cuts, or whether they are prepared to condemn the more than 150,000 residents that they represent to the consequences of these plans.

Greens also call on the Labour-run Brighton & Hove City Council to recognise the urgency of the situation, and agree to an emergency meeting to address concerns. Currently, no standard Full Council meetings are scheduled until July. We call for an immediate Special Meeting to ensure opposition councillors and residents have the opportunity to speak, and hear from the Labour administration on the impact that the Government’s plans are expected to have in Brighton & Hove.

Brighton & Hove Green Party
Councillor Steve Davis (Green, Preston Park)
Councillor Chloe Goldsmith (Green, Regency)
Councillor Raphael Hill (Green, Round Hill)
Councillor Ellen McLeay (Green, West Hill & North Laine)
Councillor Kerry Pickett (Green, Preston Park)
Councillor Ollie Sykes (Green, Brunswick & Adelaide)
Councillor Pete West (Green, Round Hill)
Councillor Sue Shanks (Green, West Hill & North Laine)

[1] theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/08/disability-benefit-cuts-impossible-to-support-labour-mps-tell-starmer
[2]sianberry.org.uk/2025/03/14/letter-to-labour-mps-on-proposed-cuts-to-welfare-benefits/

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The seat was won by Labour with a reduced majority. At the last local council elections in 2023, Labour won by over 1000 votes – but this time the gap was reduced to just 209 votes.

Greens say this should be a ‘warning sign for Labour’ after their record on both the council and in Government has been called into question by the result.

Geoff Shanks, Green party candidate says:

“I want to thank the residents’ of Westbourne and Poets’ Corner for their support throughout the campaign.

“The result is a clear warning sign for Labour.  I am disappointed to not be joining the Green Group on the council, but Greens will not let this result stop us standing up for the voters who repeatedly told us they wanted Labour to do better for our country and our city.”

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