A former councillor has been announced as the Green Party’s candidate in an upcoming council by-election.

Ollie Sykes, who represented the Brunswick and Adelaide ward on Brighton and Hove City Council between 2011 and 2019, will stand to represent the party in the Wish ward by-election on December 8.

The contest was triggered following the death of long-serving councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn in September.

Mr Sykes served as the local Green Party’s finance lead for five years before standing down in May 2019 and was also the party’s candidate for Hove at the last general election, placing fourth.

He said: “I have been inspired by the work of our Green-led council since stepping aside three years ago, and they have made real progress in tackling our climate and biodiversity emergency.

“I believe that right now the city needs more Green councillors. Anyone watching politics over the last few months would be horrified by the mess created by the Conservative government in Westminster and the lack of opposition by Labour.

“The mess created by the government is letting our city down. Whether that is the increase in people needing to use food banks, children eligible for free school meals or promises of damaging cuts to vital public services, we cannot allow this to continue.

“If elected, I will fight to ensure we act with urgency on the crises we face.”

Mr Sykes will battle for the vacant council seat alongside Labour candidate Bella Sankey and Conservative candidate Peter Revell.

Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said he would be “delighted” if he was elected to “join our Green group of councillors again at such a crucial time”.

He said: “Having worked closely with him over the eight years he was a councillor, I know he is dedicated, hard-working and on top of his brief.”

Residents in Wish ward have until 11.59pm on November 22 to register to vote for the by-election next month.