Adrian Hart I'm standing as an Independent candidate in Queens Park ward.

Full statement

Why is there a By-Election? Because one of our two Labour councellors was expelled by Labour (allegedly for electoral malpractice) and subsequently resigned.

Day job: Community Filmmaker. Writer for the Brighton Society. Co-founder of BRAT (Business & Residents Against Tagging), founder of Amex Area Neighbourhood Action Forum which, after a battle with the council in 2019, secured the lease to what is now the thriving White Street Community Garden on Edward Street - See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1480134612180682 and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1880505305302446

As a community filmmaker for two decades Adrian Hart centered his work on youth projects, collaborative work with refugee and asylum seekers and the production of anti-racist educational materials for schools. He currently divides his time between video work for the campaign Don’t Divide Us, writing projects (see www.adrianhart.com) and an array of neighbourhood initiatives.

"I am proud to be part of a new movement of independent candidates standing in wards across the city. You may already have your party choice for May 2nd in mind but you deserve the chance to vote for a candidate who actually lives in the ward (for 21 years) and who is independent of mainstream, national party politics. If elected as your Independent Councillor, free from the control of national party machines, I will be exclusively dedicated to Queens Park constituents and the challenge of restoring good governance to Brighton and Hove”.

(Adrian Hart)

Brighton & Hove Independents candidates have no allegiance, either recently or currently, to national political parties. Its candidates have their own views on the issues facing society and the world but these are set aside when we meet to discuss what the people of this city want and need. Indeed, we believe that a diversity of background, viewpoints, experience and skills make for better group decisions.

The change our city needs.

Our goal is to improve the running of Brighton & Hove through the election of candidates with the life and work experiences needed to manage Our City.

Unshackled from national party politics, independent councillors will work together – and with any party councillor willing to join forces – to put Our City First.

Lives: Queens Park for 20 years.

Adrian says: "At the last local elections, you could pin a green or a red rosette on a complete stranger and they'd win. They might be unknown to residents, live elsewhere, say absolutely nothing other than the talking points their party gives them and it wouldn't matter. But there's a new mood today - disaffection with the way the parties run this city is at an all time low. Independent councillors make sense to people".

Brighton & Hove could lead the way in becoming a city where its people take over the running of their neighbourhoods. A new era of independent councillors derived from civic life and community and business enterprise would breath oxygen back into local democracy. Independents can embody a diversity of fresh thinking – all the better to enact and maintain the things voters want”.