A council candidate who missed out on being elected by two votes is hoping to be chosen by voters four years on.

Labour’s John Hewitt faced a painful defeat in Hangleton and Knoll after falling short of securing a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council by the narrowest of margins in 2019.

However, he is now running again in the same ward at the election in May and has sensed a change in the mood among residents.

Mr Hewitt, a life-long resident of the area, said people in the ward are demanding change.

He said: “People are fed up with the Greens running the city and, nationally, people are fed up with the Tories and the more than a decade of austerity they have imposed upon us.

“Labour is the only party in Hangleton which can represent and work for the people.”

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John also expressed his love of Hangleton and said: “The people here are very much down to earth. 

“There is a good community feeling and I want to represent people as best we can on the council.”

He said people had lost pride in where they live since the Greens took control of the council.

Mr Hewitt is standing with two other Labour candidates, Faiza Baghoth and councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean Amanda Grimshaw.

Cllr Grimshaw moved to Hangleton and now hopes to represent the ward.

She said: “It makes sense for me now to dedicate being a ward councillor to the area where I actually live in.

She said the cost-of-living crisis regularly comes up on the doorstep, with everyone now “feeling the pinch”.

“It’s on everybody’s mind that what’s happening nationally is affecting the community as a whole,” she said.

Ms Baghoth, who has lived in the area for around 17 years, said people in Hangleton have felt neglected by the Green-led administration and said Labour would fight for greater investment in the outskirts of the city.

She said: “We are going to represent the people better - we have had three Conservative councillors for almost a decade and we are going backwards.

“People here really need a voice which can represent them and bring the development and services which have been neglected here.”

While Labour is hoping to win a seat in the ward for the first time since 2011 and majority control of the council, Cllr Grimshaw said she is not taking anything for granted.

She said: “We would never be presumptuous and assume anything is a given - we are here to work hard, and by working hard, we can show residents we are here to represent them.

“Every vote really does matter. That cruel blow for John in 2019 is on our minds first and foremost. We can’t have that happen again.”

The three Labour candidates will face off against two Conservative councillors, Dawn Barnett and Nick Lewry, as well as their third candidate Tim Hodges.

Residents have until April 17 to ensure they are registered to vote to cast their ballot on May 4.