Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has called on voters to oust the city’s “failed Green administration” which has “let people down”.

During a visit to Brighton yesterday, Ms Reeves said Labour’s candidates and activists in Brighton and Hove were working hard to “kick out the Greens” and offer voters an alternative vision for the city.

It comes as Martin Farley, a Green candidate for Coldean and Stanmer, encouraged voters not to vote “Tory or Tory-lite” and back the Greens instead.

The remark prompted outrage from Labour activists and candidates, with one claiming the Green’s record in power is “so unbelievably dry after years in power their only strategy is to call everyone a Tory”.

The Argus:

In response to Mr Farley’s comments, Ms Reeves said: “The Greens in Brighton should worry a bit more about getting the rubbish collected and the streets cleaned than attacking their opponents.

“If you look at some of the things Labour are prioritising in the local elections, including 13,000 additional police officers on the streets to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, freezing council tax paid for by a windfall tax on energy giants, and reforms we would bring in to clean up our beaches and rivers - that is the exact opposite of what the Conservatives have done these last 13 years.

“It’s time for change in Britain and in Brighton - in both cases, it’s about getting rid of a failed administration, whether that’s the Greens here or the Tories nationally in Westminster.”

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2023:

Ms Reeves said the party hopes to replicate its success at the last local elections in Worthing in Brighton and Hove this time. In Worthing the party gained control of the council from the Conservatives for the first time ever.

She said: “We’re not taking anything for granted but we are campaigning hard in Brighton and Hove to show people that there is an alternative to the failed Green administration.

“We are working hard to kick out the Greens who have let people down.”

A spokeswoman for the Green Party encouraged all parties to focus on the "positive benefits" of voting for their candidates and said: "It is disappointing that Labour both locally and nationally are instead resorting to insults rather than showcasing what they stand for."

She said: "Greens took over the leadership of the council in July 2020 at the midst of a public health crisis, after Labour stepped aside when they found themselves unable to govern.

"Since that time, we have had a relentless focus on tackling the key issues facing our city; the climate crisis, the housing crisis and combatting the effects of Conservative government austerity."

Voters in the city will go to the polls on May 4 to elect 54 councillors for the next four years.

People have until April 17 to register to vote - applications can be completed online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.