People across Britain will celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee this year - but she will be snubbed by Brighton and Hove.

We can reveal the city council has not planned a single event to mark the 50th anniversary of Princess Elizabeth becoming Queen.

The Queen granted Brighton and Hove city status just over a year ago and she visited the twin resorts in March 2001.

Tory councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: "I think a city that has achieved its status thanks to the Queen should celebrate her Jubilee.

"I am surprised we are not doing more. I would have thought the premier city in the South-East would be arranging something."

Other Sussex councils, such as Worthing and Eastbourne, are helping to organise a series of glittering events to herald the royal milestone.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove said it had not seen any need to co-ordinate the city's celebrations, preferring to leave it to individuals and community groups to put on events.

Brian Fitch, a senior Labour councillor, said: "We want to share our celebrations with the Queen in her Golden Jubilee year in Brighton and Hove.

"We are encouraging organisations and people to hold parties and we are offering our expertise to help them do it.

"But this has to be viewed against a background where the council is facing substantial tax increases and reductions in staffing. We cannot spend enormous sums of money on the celebrations at a time like this."

Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Elgood said: "The Queen has given us city status and she has had a long, peaceful reign. We should mark it."

Tory leader Brian Oxley plans to table a question at a meeting of the city council later this month, when he will ask if any preparations have been made to celebrate the Jubilee locally.

He said: "It would be a shame if nothing was done. There is a lot of respect for the Queen."

Nicholas Soames, Conservative MP for Mid Sussex, condemned the city council's decision as "politically correct, grey, dull, dour and sanctimonious".

He said: "It is typical of Brighton and Hove aiming to be the lowest common denominator and, as so often, is totally out of tune with the vast majority of its citizens who want to share in this celebration.

"I don't suppose the Queen will notice but it is churlish, foolish and idiotic."

Parish council working parties all over Sussex are finalising events and commemorative mugs are expected to be distributed to children across the county.

Later, Coun Fitch said: "I will raise the issue at a meeting of Brighton and Hove Council's Cabinet today.

"I hope we will see if there is the possibility of co-operation with the business community to have some kind of celebration."