A councillor has hit back at abuse he has received for supporting Eddie Izzard’s campaign to become Labour’s candidate for Brighton Pavilion.

Councillor David McGregor, who represents Whitehawk and Marina for Brighton and Hove City Council, said he had received an “entire week of abuse from those who hate trans people” for supporting Eddie Izzard’s bid to become an MP in the city.

Eddie Izzard, a transgender woman, is among four candidates hoping to be selected to represent Labour in the constituency at the next general election.

The seat is currently held by Green MP Caroline Lucas, who is not running for re-election.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Cllr McGregor said: “If you want a measure of how rotted the current political dialogue is, even in Brighton and Hove supporting Eddie Izzard in the candidate selection has led me to get an entire week of abuse from those who hate trans people.

“Political disagreement is one thing - I am here to be challenged on anything I believe.

“But to be called a pervert, a misogynist, a rapist or an abuser simply for supporting a trans candidate is beyond belief.”

The Argus: Councillor David McGregorCouncillor David McGregor (Image: BHCC)

Tom Gray, who is also running to become Labour’s candidate for Brighton Pavilion, also condemned the abuse.

In a reply to Cllr McGregor, he said it was “incredibly disappointing and saddening”.

Two other candidates are also running in the race for the nomination; Goldsmid councillor Birgit Miller and North Portslade councillor Lucy Helliwell.

Voting online has already started among Labour members in Brighton Pavilion to select the party’s candidate for the general election.

A hustings event to choose the candidate will take place on Sunday.

Brighton Pavilion is considered a battleground seat for Labour, with the party hopeful of winning the seat for the first time in more than a decade following success in the local elections.

Labour secured their first overall majority on the city council since 2003 in May, with the number of Green councillors falling from 20 to just seven.

The Green Party has selected former party leader Sian Berry to contest the election in Brighton Pavilion in the hope of defending their only seat in Parliament.