Labour have been accused of electioneering and branded as “hypocritical” by a long-serving Conservative councillor.

Dawn Barnett, who represents the Hangleton and Knoll ward on Brighton and Hove City Council, said that the party’s councillors and activists had been misleading voters in order to get elected.

In an exclusive interview with The Argus, she said that Labour plans to bring back a controversial cycle lane along Old Shoreham Road and would approve building in an urban woodland in Benfield Valley should they gain control of the council.

She said: “Some Labour activists came up here and said they were against development in Benfield Valley, but four days later Labour voted to build on it - that’s hypocritical.

“They also want to bring back the cycle lane - that’s another thing I will fight against as I don’t want it back.”

The controversial cycle lane was originally installed in May 2020, but was scrapped in September 2021 after Labour and Conservative councillors voted for its removal.

Cllr Barnett said the proposal is “the most ludicrous thing”..

She said that she doesn’t change her mind on certain topics and issues just because an election is coming up.

“I stick by what I say, I wouldn’t change my mind just because there’s an election coming,” she said.

The Argus:

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Labour said: “A quick Google of Cllr Barnett’s name will show you she has a colourful track record of saying outrageous and silly things - and here we go again.

“It is her Conservative government that has forced the council to include Benfield Valley in the City Plan and no amount of phoney grandstanding by local Tory councillors will take away from that fact.

“As for the temporary cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road - we listened to residents who told us it was rushed and ineffective. Labour will adopt evidence-led policies to encourage modal shift, including pushing for free bus travel for young people and, crucially, we will consult and listen to our residents.

“Cllr Barnett’s time would be better spent lobbying her Conservative colleagues in Westminster to give our city back the £110 million they stole from us.”