WITH just a week left until polling day for the December General Election, voters across the country are making up their minds.
One key battleground is Brighton Kemptown, where Labour candidate Lloyd Russell-Moyle is facing a tricky battle against four strong challengers.
To find out voters’ views in the crucial final week of the election, reporter Sam Brooke visited St James’s Street in the city to get residents’ views on the heated political race.
Retail worker Miles Nightingale, 55, lives near St James’s Street, Brighton
“I’m not sure who to vote for.
“I’m a Labour voter but I want Brexit so I’m not in a good place.
“I’m not happy with their position on Brexit now that they want a second referendum.
“There’s Brexit and there’s Julian Assange too.
“Not a single MP visited him in prison or stood up for him, which is a disgrace.
“It’s protecting journalism.
“To me, Brexit’s not a left or right-wing thing.
“I was about 15 when we joined the EEC and there were a lot of Labour MPs like Tony Benn and Michael Foot who were against joining it.
“But I feel like Brexit’s drowned out a lot of other big issues like housing, jobs, and education.
“I’m in a bit of a rock and a hard place.
“A lot of people in the North who voted Labour probably won’t now because they want Brexit.
“I don’t think I’ll vote for Lloyd Russell-Moyle because he wants to remain in the EU.”
Gary Jackman, 57, is a shop owner in St James’s Street, Brighton
“I’m going waste my vote and vote for the Lib Dems.
“I know they can’t win in Kemptown but I don’t like the direction the city is going in and I feel like no one’s doing anything about it.
“As a business owner I don’t like Labour and I’m not a fan of the Tories either.
“I don’t think either party is doing enough to help the homeless and less fortunate, there are homeless people and beggars all over Brighton now.
“There’s antisocial behaviour and graffiti all over St James’s Street and there are people drinking all the time because there are so many bars.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m living in Brighton any more.
“The internet has destroyed the high street so it’s hard for businesses to do well and so many people have lost their jobs.
“So many have resorted to begging because that’s the easiest way to get money now.
“It’s disgraceful.”
Sophie Harpwood, 36, is a doctor who lives in Camelford Street, Brighton
“I’m voting Labour. I don’t want the Conservatives to stay in power.
“I think Labour are the best with the NHS, although I like the Greens and the Lib Dems too. I don’t know about Lloyd Russell-Moyle much.
“I don’t like how the Conservatives have handled Brexit or what they’ve done to the NHS, I’m a doctor and if they’re going to be in power again I won’t be happy.
“Labour will increase tax for anyone earning above £80,000 and I think that’s fine, I’m a socialist so it’s fair to ask richer people to pay a little more to help out the poor.
“I think free university tuition is a great idea too.”
Writer Sam Dee, 32, lives near St James’s Street, Brighton
“I’m going to vote Labour because it will keep the Tories out here.
“That’s the main thing, plus I like the idea of having a second referendum.
“Brexit was a massive mistake.
“I don’t know much about Labour’s policies but I’m voting for them because they’re not the Tories and I don’t like the Tories.
“I know Lloyd Russell-Moyle picked up the mace in Parliament, that was pretty cool.
“Plus he’s not a Tory.
“Keeping out the Tories is my main thing.”
Claire Bonner, 43, lives in Poynings near Brighton
“To be honest, I’ll probably vote Green or Lib Dems because I don’t trust Labour after their last stint in Government and Jeremy Corbyn is a bit of a joke.
“I always thought Conservatives was the way to go but the whole Brexit thing has put me off.
“I don’t want either of the two major parties in control.
“The Green Party is good because we should be focused more on the environment.
“The Lib Dems are better on Brexit, I think we should stay in.
“It’s the best of the options.
“I’ve never voted before, I’ve never felt completely happy about politics.
“I just feel like it’s such a mess, we can’t have a repeat like this.
“I wish we could have a fresh start.”
Harriet Hartfield-Potter, 21, is a dog walker who lives in The Lanes, Brighton
“I’m going to vote Labour. I just believe it’s the right thing to do morally.
“There’s no way I would ever vote Conservative.
“But Labour’s policies are good too, I’m not just naturally a Labour voter.
“I feel like Jeremy Corbyn’s had quite an unfair time in the media, I don’t think he’s a bad person.
“I think it’s the right way to go.
“Labour’s candidate in Brighton Pavilion is also the only candidate I’ve seen who’s talking about capping rent, which is really important.
“It’s so expensive to live here so that would really help.”
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