The Euro Election Results Are In
Thank You!
Phew, it feels like a long week of election fever, but the results for Brighton and Hove are now in and Labour have overtaken the Green Party to finish a very convincing first place. The Green’s have fallen to second, Tories third, and UKIP a very distant fourth. Labour have added over 10,000 votes to our tally since the last Euro elections in 2009.
What does this mean? To me it means that people are now open to hearing what Labour has to say about the future of our city once again. It also means that residents want to place their trust in a party that knows how to administrate, to get the basics right, as well as one that shares their values.
It does not mean that the general or local elections of 2015 are ‘in the bag’. I view today’s result as an invitation for me and my teams of activists to work harder than ever before to develop policies that are practical, solve problems and create opportunities, and spend even more time out in neighbourhoods listening and campaigning.
Mike Weatherley’s total absence from this campaign was an invitation for voters to turn to Labour, leaving the Conservatives languishing in third place. I’m so immensely proud of the Labour activists who worked their socks off meeting and listening to residents whatever the weather.
Rather astonishingly Caroline Lucas has today hinted that the Green Party are a spent force in Hove and Portslade and stated that the Greens lost disproportionately more votes here than elsewhere. It’s shocking to hear her admit it, but I suppose not a surprising sentiment to those of us who live here under an incompetent Green administration.
Anyway, despite the weather today I hope you have enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend and have a lovely evening planned before normal office hours resume tomorrow!
All the best, Peter
PS for those of you who enjoy a little Green nuttiness, try this: The Green Party issued a statement today saying that the city area vote showed a “Great Green win”. Only it didn’t, they lost. So then another statement emerges declaring pride at coming a “strong second place in South East”. Only they didn’t, they came fourth. I guess this is what happens when the people responsible for Brighton and Hove’s refuse collection and recycling are let loose with a calculator!