| Election Name: | 2023 Brighton and Hove City Council election |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Party Colour: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Previous Election: | 2019 Brighton and Hove City Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2019 |
| Next Election: | 2027 Brighton and Hove City Council election |
| Next Year: | 2027 |
| Seats For Election: | All 54 council seats on Brighton and Hove City Council 28 seats needed for a majority |
| Election Date: | 4 May 2023 |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 20 seats, 32.5% |
| Seats Before1: | 16 |
| Seats1: | 38 |
| Party2: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Last Election2: | 19 seats, 34.1% |
| Seats Before2: | 20 |
| Seats2: | 7 |
| Party3: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election3: | 14 seats, 21.0% |
| Seats Before3: | 11 |
| Seats3: | 6 |
| Party4: | Brighton and Hove Independents |
| Last Election4: | New party |
| Seats Before4: | 0 |
| Seats4: | 2 |
| Seat Change4: | 2 |
| Party5: | Independent politician |
| Last Election5: | 1 seat, 1.6% |
| Seats Before5: | 7 |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| Leader | |
| Posttitle: | Leader after election |
| Before Election: | Phélim Mac Cafferty Green |
| Before Party: | No overall control |
| After Election: | Bella Sankey |
| After Party: | Labour Party (UK) |
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.
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
At the 2023 election Labour won a majority on the council for the first time since 1999.[4] After the election, with the previous Labour leaders having not stood for re-election, the party selected Bella Sankey to be its new leader.[5] She was formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023.[6]
| Party | Seats | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Party of England and Wales | 20 | ||
| Labour Party | 16 | ||
| Conservative Party | 11 | ||
| Independents | 7 | ||
|-
Phélim Mac Cafferty and Hannah Allbrooke were sitting councillors for Brunswick and Adelaide ward.
Jackie O'Quinn was a sitting councillor for Goldsmid ward
Steph Powell was a sitting councillor for Hanover & Elm Grove ward
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.
Amanda Evans was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward
Leo Littman was a sitting councillor for Preston Park ward and Steve Davis was a sitting councillor for Withdean.
Clare Rainey was a sitting councillor for Queen’s Park ward.
Bridget Fishleigh was previously elected as an Independent, but was re-elected as a member of the Brighton and Hove Independents.
Pete West was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine.
Sue Shanks was a sitting councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine ward.
Samer Bagaeen was a sitting councillor in the former Hove Park ward.
Steve Bell and Dee Simson were sitting councillors for Woodingdean ward.