A former leader of a majority Labour council has called on voters not to split their votes to avoid “leaving essential long decisions on hold”.

Lord Bassam, who served as leader of the council in Brighton and Hove from 1987 to 1999, said “spread betting” would result in more division and an inability to make big decisions for the city.

He said the Greens’ time in control has been “characterised by waste, ideologically-driven decisions, bin disputes, falling recycling rates and failing services”.

Lord Bassam said: “For me, one decision by the Greens stands out as a monument to their failure of judgement - the investment of £36 million of council money into the i360 at a time when the city was crying out for new investment in its basic services.”

He said that splitting votes between different political parties would not improve the deadlock on implementing decisions across the city.

“All it might do is hold back the election of a progressive and radical Labour council fully committed with a mandate to sort out the city’s services and work with an incoming Labour government determined to put the environment front and centre in its mission.

“Labour administrations put money into job creation through arts-led regeneration, stimulating investment in the two universities, worked with fans to protect our football club and give it a home to be proud of and set the policy in place to create jobs in the emerging digital economy.

“On May 4, people have a stark choice - dither and delay, or elect a Labour council prepared to lead and listen.”

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2023:

A spokeswoman for the Brighton and Hove Green Party said: “Greens took on 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.

“We would encourage all parties to focus on the positive benefits of voting for their party.”

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