Former Seagulls chief executive to stand for Labour at next election

Former Seagulls chief executive Martin Perry is set to swap the boardroom for the council chamber after announcing he will stand at next year’s local elections.

A thorn in many a politician’s side for a number of years while the fight for Falmer went on, the former Brighton and Hove Albion chief will be a Labour candidate when the city goes to the polls in May 2015.

It comes after months of speculation that the man who oversaw the construction of the £100 million American Express Community Stadium would be pursuing a political career.

Local Labour leader Councillor Warren Morgan said: “I’m delighted that Martin Perry is joining the Labour team for 2015. Martin has an unequalled track record in delivering major projects like the American Express Community Stadium, and will be an enormous asset to the Brighton and Hove Labour team taking on the Greens and Tories in next year’s local elections.

“His skills and experience will make him a formidable city councillor, and his decision to stand for us shows we are a serious and credible alternative to the current council leadership.”

Mr Perry, 66, joined Albion in 1997 after being involved in the construction of a new stadium in Huddersfield.

As chief executive of the Seagulls, he was instrumental in steering the club through a series of planning appeals as it looked to win permission for a new stadium.

When he stood down in 2012, he continued on the club’s board of directors while overseeing its £22 million training complex in Lancing.

Last year, he was awarded the honour of “outstanding Brightonian” at the Brighton and Hove Business Awards.

It was during this time that rumours circulated of him wanting to stand as a councillor. But he always shrugged off the suggestion.

The exact seat which Mr Perry will contest has not yet been confirmed.

But Labour sources said the party would do everything it could to ensure Mr Perry was allocated as safe a ward as possible to ensure he becomes a councillor for the four-year term.

The elections will take place in May 2015, the same day as the general election.

Currently Labour is the third party on the local authority with 14 seats. The Greens have 21, Conservatives 18 and there is one independent.