Three Labour activists vie to run party in Brighton and Hove

Three activists are hoping to be chosen as the next chairman of the Brighton, Hove and District Labour Party.

Current chairman Adrian Morris faces two challengers at the Brighton and Hove party’s annual general meeting (AGM) next month.

One of those standing against him is former councillor Melanie Davis, a member of the party’s local executive committee. She represented Goldsmid ward on Brighton and Hove City Council until the local elections in 2011.

The other challenger is digital entrepreneur and former Fleet Street journalist Greg Hadfield who has served as the party’s agent in the Brighton Pavilion constituency.

The deadline for nominations is Sunday (28 April) and members are due to make their choice and the local party’s AGM on Saturday 11 May.

Eighteen candidates have put themselves forward to be the party’s candidate in Hove at the next general election.

They include the former council leader Simon Burgess and Peter Kyle, the chairman of governors at the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA). Both men live in the constituency.

Former Army officer Adrian Twyning, who runs the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton is also hoping to be selected.

The trio are among 17 men hoping to win back the seat for Labour from Conservative MP Mike Weatherley. Six of them are “black, Asian or minority ethnic” candidates.

The only woman on the shortlist is Rianna Humble, the national party’s trans officer on the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) committee.

She served as a member of Crawley Borough Council for nearly ten years as Robert Hull.

She is also one of four names on the women-only list of potential candidates for Brighton Kemptown where the party hopes to win back the seat from Conservative MP Simon Kirby.

Former Brighton Pavilion candidate Nancy Platts is another of the four, along with BHASVIC-educated Katie Ghose, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society.

In Hove the nominations are open until Friday 17 May, shortlisting interviews for the nominated candidates are on Saturday 25 May and the hustings are on Saturday 15 June.

A couple of dozen local party members and about half the candidates turned out for an informal meeting at All Saints Church at 9am on Saturday (20 April).

The selection timetable for the Hove and Brighton Kemptown candidates are running in parallel. Just before the two constituencies’ candidates are chosen, the selection process for Brighton Pavilion will begin.

The party will choose it candidate for Brighton Pavilion from a women-only shortlist. Among those expected to try for the chance to take on Green MP Caroline Lucas are local Labour activists Caroline Penn and Purna Sen.

Nominations have opened for candidates to succeed Councillor Gill Mitchell as Labour group leader on the council. They close on Friday 10 May with the vote taking place at the group AGM on Tuesday 14 May.