2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election

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.

Ward candidates
Phélim Mac Cafferty and Hannah Allbrooke were sitting councillors for Brunswick and Adelaide ward.

Goldsmid
Jackie O'Quinn was a sitting councillor for Goldsmid ward

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.

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean
Amanda Evans was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward

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.

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.

West Hill and North Laine
Sue Shanks was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine ward.

Westdene and Hove Park
Samer Bagaeen was a sitting councillor in the former Hove Park ward.

Woodingdean
Steve Bell and Dee Simson were sitting councillors for Woodingdean ward.

Changes 2023–2027

 * Samer Bagaeen, elected as a Conservative, left the party in April 2024 to sit as an independent.