Ex-Brighton councillor selected as Green Party parliamentary candidate

Ex-councillor Elaine Hills will stand as the party’s candidate in Kemptown and Peacehaven while therapeutic counsellor Sophie Broadbent will stand in Hove and Portslade.

Ms Hills, a lecturer at the University of Brighton, has lived in the city for 25 years and served as a councillor until 2023.

“It is an honour to have been selected as the Green Party’s parliamentary candidate for Kemptown and Peacehaven,” she said.

Elaine Hills was first elected as a councillor in 2019 (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

“I am deeply committed to working hard for the area’s amazing residents and to ensuring their voices are heard and represented in parliament. 

“Unlike the Tories and Labour, Greens will push for greener, fairer policies. Voters care deeply about protecting the environment. They want water, energy and transport to be in public hands, rather than cash cows for shareholders, and the Greens are the only party pushing for this.

“More Greens in Parliament will lead to policies that prioritise the lives and well-being of residents and our precious planet. With my experience, passion and dedication, I am ready to stand up for the people of Kemptown and Peacehaven in Parliament.”

Others announced to stand in the constituency, currently held by Lloyd Russell-Moyle who will stand again for Labour, are Conservative candidate Khobi Vallis, Liberal Democrat candidate Stewart Stone and Social Democratic Party candidate Valerie Gray.

In her current role, Ms Broadbent works to help the advertising production community measure and reduce carbon use.

Daniel Rue, left, Norma Fletcher, Caroline Lucas and Sophie Broadbent campaigning in Patcham (Image: Brighton and Hove Green Party)

The mum of two also volunteers for the Climate Psychology Alliance, supporting people with their emotions around the environmental and ecological emergency.

“I am very proud to be selected as Green Party candidate for MP in Hove and Portslade,” she said.

“I’m ready to listen to local people and work hard to represent their concerns in Westminster, where I would hold the government to account and advocate for policies that deliver a fairer, more sustainable future for everybody.

“As a local mum of two, I care deeply about protecting the natural world which we all rely on – and all the people living in it. I would campaign for clean water, affordable housing, a fully funded NHS, fair wages, and a better education system so we can deliver a bright future for all.”

Ms Broadbent will go head to head with current MP for Hove Peter Kyle, who will stand again for Labour, Liberal Democrat candidate Michael Wang and Martin Hess for Reform UK.