Pete Gilman, James Hallwood and Clare Calder need your help to make a difference to Brighton politics for good by voting Labour on May 5th 2011 and electing them as your councillors.

We live in Brighton, we know our city and we love it and we are desperate to change it for the better.

Between us we represent three different aspects of Brighton’s diverse population, Pete is a family-man, James is a student and Clare works for a charity – and all three of us are committed to core Labour values of social justice, fairness and equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, sexuality, religion, disability or background.

Left of the party

We very much see ourselves as at the left of the Labour Party, true to its original aims. While Labour achieved many great things in power; the minimum wage, civil partnerships and a ban on foxhunting to name but a few, as candidates we are happy that the party is moving on under Ed Miliband’s leadership and learning from past mistakes.

Between us we are members of the:
-Co-operative Party
-GMB Trade Union
-Compass (the leftwing pressure group within Labour)
-NUS

Every leftwing Labour councillor elected strengthens the progressive voice within the national party – the only party strong enough in parliament to stand up to the Con-Dem Coaliton. A vote for Labour on a national day of local elections sends a firm message to the coalition; there is an alternative and we support the opposition.

Why not the Greens?

We have a lot of time for the principles of the Green Party and green issues in general but are dismayed at their behaviour on the council.

-All three council seats in Saint Peter’s and North Laine have been Green for over 13 years – but in that time what has changed for the better?

-They REFUSE to work with Labour on the council to oppose the Conservative minority control that has cut SureStart and other vital services

-They have continually opposed affordable housing schemes

-Where were they when the roads iced over trapping many?

-Individually they all vote separately – so they can’t deliver any effective promises as a group.

Scrutiny

Every party should be put under scrutiny before and after elections – look at the LibDems who got away with riding a popular wave before implementing damaging policies.

All we ask is that Green voters ask their party about their policies, what they are delivering on and fundamentally why they won’t work with Labour to fight the Tories.

Local issues

Having lived in the ward for years we have a good idea of what problems face our neighbours: antisocial behaviour, litter and bin collections, parking, housing and sadly now cuts to vital services.

As we meet more and more of you we shall work out what your priorities are and aim to deliver promises that can be kept, realistic but principled and always with the wellbeing of our fellow Brightonians in mind.

A key promise

For too long Brighton council has seemed distant to the people of our city. Deals done behind closed doors, votes not reported on and phantom ‘consultations’. If elected we promise that every single action we take as councillors would be open to scrutiny and reported back to our ward members, explaining what we’ve done and why. Our first and overriding concern is to deliver for you and be accountable for our actions.

Even one vote can help

You have three votes so even just giving one of the candidates your vote helps reinforce the progressive voice within Labour and sends that national message to the Tories. We are the only party that can cause problems for the CON-DEMs , please think about that when you consider whom to vote for.

Thank you for reading and please click on our photos to read our biographies.

WE LOVE BRIGHTON. HELP US STAND UP FOR OUR CITY