Five candidates are standing in a by-election in Queen’s Park for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council on Thursday 2 May.
The seat became vacant when Chandni Mistry resigned. She was elected for Labour last May but expelled from the party in December. She then sat as an independent but resigned in March.
The five candidates are Sunny Choudhury (Conservative), Milla Gauge (Labour), Dominique Hall (Liberal Democrat), Adrian Hart (Brighton and Hove Independent) and Luke Walker (Green).
Each candidate received questions about local issues submitted by the public and was asked why they wanted to represent the ward.
Below are the responses from Adrian Hart, 63, a writer and video editor who tweets as @AdrianHartQuPk.
Do you live in the ward and why do you want to represent Queen’s Park?
Yes, 21 years. Sadly, less than half of Brighton and Hove councillors live in their ward. Too many prioritise their party’s interests over ours.
Recently the Observer, Sunday Times and Brighton and Hove News exposed a shocking child safeguarding scandal in city schools.
Yet the administration seems reluctant for anyone, including candidates, to mention it – apparently, not in “party” interests.
I want to champion the issues important to residents and speak the truth on matters (on schools, housing, transport) Labour evidently want to conceal.
How were you selected to stand for election?
Brighton and Hove Independents have become a lightning rod for residents rooted in their neighbourhoods and committed to forging an independent alternative for voters.
My son went to Orchard Day Nursery, Queen’s Park Primary and played endlessly in our amazing park.
I walk the same pavements as voters. I look at the same tagging, the same overflowing bins.
My life has become woven in to the fabric of the life of this area. In this sense, Brighton and Hove Independent candidates are self-selecting.
What are your views on St Luke’s school appealing against the council’s decision to reduce admissions by a whole class of 30 four-year-olds?
St Luke’s made a powerful case against this cut. Using data and evidence to challenge a decision that was NOT in Labour’s manifesto last year, their objections to the PAN (published admission number) cuts were principled and well argued.
Has this administration listened? A reduced PAN will mean significantly reduced funding for the school.
It’s tough for any council confronting falling pupil admissions (every decision must be balanced to benefit children citywide).
As with St Bartholomew’s proposed closure, the council seem tin-eared and cold-blooded.
Freshfield Road constantly has cars speeding along it. What will you do to bring speed cameras and crossing places?
Yes, the excessive speed of vehicles, especially downhill, is terrifying (May 2021 saw a serious injury car/motorbike accident that could easily have resulted in death). I think this needs a petition.
I have experience organising these and bringing them to the attention of the council.
Prior to the petition, all the data collected on speeding needs to be collated along with accident history records.
I have no doubt it will prove that at least 20 per cent of drivers exceed the speed limit.
How would you tackle the weeds on the streets without reintroducing glyphosate spraying?
Weeds cracking pavements cause injury to residents and add to a £60 million repair backlog.
Using glyphosate to control weeds in the city is between five and 20 times cheaper than any other available method (hot foam, burning, mechanical, manual).
Hand-held low volume / gravity-controlled droplet applicators allow targeted spot elimination of weeds, quantities of glyphosate and oil consumed are minimised and drift better controlled.
The flexibility of manual application will achieve the highest degree of control and minimise environmental impact.
…
Polling stations in Queen’s Park are due to open at 7am on Thursday 2 May and close at 10pm. Photo ID is required for those voting in person.
Adrian Hart is an honest, hardworking, supportive man who would be an excellent councillor for Queens Park ward.
If I lived in the Queens Park ward, Adrian Hart would get my vote. I have worked with him on Anti-Tagging initiatives and he has been exceptionally pro-active and hands-on. He has taken on difficult issues, challenged those elected when they fall short and is never afraid to stand up and speak out on behalf of his fellow residents.
Vote Independent – it’s the right choice 😊
I’m not sure the instant hostility is the right play for Adrian. It doesn’t make for an effective relationship as a potential candidate.
Hostility is an odd word when he is simply stating his position. Adrian would be a great voice challenging Bella’s cabinet when they stray too far from the city’s best interests.
Sure, and his position is a hostile one. Although he gives good answers to weeds and speeding with solution-based reasoning. Where his knowledge or experience appears weaker, he defaults to hostility.
There are going to be a great number of challenges that will outside his normal knowledge, are we to expect his default in that situation to be a hostile one?
He’s not a bad candidate, just not quite there as a complete package, at least, in my opinion. Of course, I wish him the best – putting yourself out there is a brave thing to do, and should be respected.
Benjamin – Thank you for your opinion (though I’m disappointed you think I’m ‘not quite there as a complete package’! … My family are sniggering at that one!!) With an 80 word limit for answers to the question set for candidates, it wasn’t easy to convey how much I know on various vital subjects. I don’t know which challenges you refer to but feel free to list them and I can respond. Having written extensively (since 2019) on http://www.adrianhart.com (and for the Brighton Society) I doubt anyone can seriously argue that I lack knowledge.
That said, a good addition to the council’s 53 or so councillors right now, could easily be a candidate that isn’t a vault of knowledge on city governance but rather someone who reflects voter concerns and speaks truth to power. I am not, as you suggest, intrinsically ‘hostile’ to the current council. Since 2019 I have cooperated with Green councillor (now retired) Dave Gibson on living rent and other housing issues, collaborated with my then Labour ward councillors (Evans and Child) on positive action on residents facing nightmarish circumstances and I have presented 13 questions/deputations (one petition).
Let me end by saying that no-one should be anything other than ‘hostile’ toward the circumstances hat have led to the schools child safeguarding scandal now emerging. As the author of the Cass Report has said of those who criticise the highlighting of this matter and the voracity of our claims (and this includes many of our councillors and officials here) “If you deliberately try to undermine a report that has looked at the evidence of children’s healthcare, then that’s unforgivable. You are putting children at risk by doing that”.
Since moving here in 2002 I’ve fallen in love with this city and, in raising a son, working in schools and establishing a community garden, I have a stake in it. Do please check out http://www.adrianhart.com Let me know if I’ve missed your point Benjamin. Thanks!
Thanks for commenting, it’s good to have some amicable discussions with the candidates.
I quite agree that 80 words is very difficult to convey anything of substance, to be fair. Thanks for the link, I’ve been taking some time reading through some of your earlier writing, and some of the newer stuff to get more of a feel of who you are as a person holistically.
Honestly, the descriptive I’m still coming up with is still hostile, respectfully. In your blogs and on Brighton Society, I was reading a variety of phrases that wouldn’t feel out of place on GBN News, which I note ironically, there’s at least one link to. Although, I have a much clearer picture of where you stand politically from your musings – so thank you for that.
When I say you’re not the complete package, it’s not on the topics you are comfortable with, nor on being participatory in the community, as you evidenced with your blog very clearly; you have done the research to articulate a strong criticism of things you believe in. The incompleteness comes from the impression that I’m not confident you could move beyond the role of critic, which I would argue anyone with an opinion on a subject can do, to one that can articulate a positive message forward or actively make those changes.
And of course, one should be able to criticise, and those critics are also open to criticisms as well, as I’m sure you’re experiencing these days, such is the nature of campaigning. The Cass Report is a whole topic that we could discuss at great length, and, when it comes to safeguarding children with that in mind, I suspect we will find common ground there.
It should be peer-reviewed however, along with every other report and research piece out there, as this is proper to ensure the research and claims are factual and not influenced by biases, and even accuracy. Even more so when the outcome can have a very tangible effect on what I suspect we agree is our most precious resource, our children.
It is aa brave thing to put yourself forward as a candidate, as I’ve said to some of the others on here already. So you have my respect for standing up for what you believe in and aiming to serve Brighton’s community, and wish you the best in your campaign.
I heartily support this candidate, he is insightful, deep thinking, affective, and has local needs and requirements at the forefront of his intentions
If you want a grafter and not a grifter, Adrian is your candidate for Queens Park Ward after Labour’s ‘Leicester Ladies’ debacle, for which Labour have so far paid no penalty, not even the cost of these by-elections their parachuting has led to. Nor were these two forced to pay a penny of expenses back for doing nothing for 9 months.
Adrian has the word ‘community’ running through him like a stick of rock with a track record of local community initiatives dating back over the 25 years he has lived in Queen’s Park.
This is a one-horse race if you want a horse with four legs.
Adrian is an amazing, honest man who deserves to win. He is brave enough to fight for right causes.
Local councils have turned from providing cost effective statutory services, to using our money to control our behaviour. That includes LTNs on the back of net zero, which we did not vote for.
Soon we will have to exchange our ICE cars for EVs and replace our gas boilers with heat pumps, typically at a cost of £20,000 or more. We need to stop this taxation without representation which is against our common law rights.
But mainstream parties expect councillors not to criticise their policies and to comply with the party whip. They like the Cabinet System, which results in policy being agreed behind closed doors. They don’t like open debate.
What we need is councillors who apply common (business) sense, who insist on value who will not speculate with taxpayer’s money and who will not comply with a Party Whip.
Politics has no place in local government and In the circumstances, voting for Adrian Hart, Independent, is a no brainer.
Adrian is an amazing, honest man who fights for right causes.
Adrian Hart has done sterling work with the council, holding their feet to the fire over the teaching of Critical Race Theory in schools and over the safeguarding of children in schools. B&H Council are out of control with their identity politics and need councillors who will stand up to them.
Hear hear!
This man is a truly independent candidate and if elected will constantly challenge the council on everything they need to be challenged on, especially the fashionable but dangerous, divisive, and unscientific nonsense that is being peddled in our schools in the name of education.
Independence is the way forward. It doesn’t matter what colour the Party, they all have the top down view of governance. It is not what is best for us and the areas we live in, but following Government insane Agendas and controlling every aspect of out lives. We have all seen by now the U Turns they all take once elected.
Adrian isn’t about false promises. He is about positive change and building towards a brighter future for the next generation.
He’s a good man!
I don’t live in Adrian’s area but if I did he would most certainly be getting my vote.
I’ll support him all the way.
Why not give Adrian a go. Seems like a good guy.
Great to see a local candidate stepping up, that you know will put the community and men and women of Brighton first
Reform uk plz
Bit late now. Nominations closed 3 weeks ago.
He is a honest guy who really cares about his community. I’ve met him a few times and his passion to support oppressed people and families touched me…
I like the fact Adrian Hart is not aligned with any political party.
I cannot vote for any of them as I do not have faith in them.
I trust Adrian. He would do a good job for local people.
Why am I getting the impression some of these comments are AI / Chatbot generated?
They aren’t written how normal people would write.
Yup – v fishy.
Adrian is not the nice guy as suggested above, he is a right wing extremist. He is pro-brexit, transphobic and doesn’t believe that racism is a thing.
It’s all there in his own blog and previous contributions to this organ. Nasty stuff.
Conan, it’s your disgraceful, inaccurate and libellous comment that is nasty stuff. Adrian Hart has campaigned against racism, but doesn’t appear to buy in to some of the divisive theories being peddled by some people at present. Nor is he transphobic. He has always come across as someone who cares about children above special interest groups. Your comment is beneath contempt, snide and suggests that you are the extremist.
Ok – so no negative comments allowed. You guys were quick. Is this a cult or are you sock puppets?
Urge you people to read his blog – sinister and extreme.
The left have moved sooo far to the left embracing crazy and dangerous and divisive theories. Any one kind-hearted who remains absolutely non-racist and caring with common-sense in the centre of the political spectrum is now is deemed racist or transphobic by nuts like Conan the Fruitarian.As these are the words they like to throw around with impunity destroying lives and reputations on unfounded whims. I don’t know Adrian and only heard of him yesterday but he would certainly get my vote if he challenges the ‘group think’ . Right wing extremists and left wing extremists are both cheeks of the same ar*e at the moment. We need sensible measured tolerant voices that dare to critique some of the extremism on both sides.
Hard to believe the comments by ChrisC and Conan got past the moderators. Adrian has provided moral and practical support to a friend of mine. I haven’t met him but, from what I’ve been told, if I lived in his ward, I would vote for him. Conversely, Labour shenanigans are responsible for these by-elections in the first place. Dodgy selections from the party that nobbled council disciplinary appeal panels!
Why would his comments be moderated? You can’t cancel someone for having an alternative point of view, especially when they also explain their reasoning, even if you disagree with someone’s assessment.
You can moderate for slanderous/libellious lies/defamation of character which is what Conan and Chris C do!
Libel, (not slander as this is written word, and both are types of defamation, just so you’re aware) by definition have to be proven knowingly falsehoods. Just reading back Conan’s comments, he states that is what he sees when he reads Adrian’s blog. That’s not libellous Kate, that’s an expression of opinion.
For example, you aren’t being defamatory of Conan, because you believe that he is being defamatory. Same logic. It’s an important distinction to make lest you risk trying to shut out reasoned debate and discussion, which, as someone who appears to be advocating for this candidate, is the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve with your comment.
Kate please explain exactly why my comment is libelous?
What lies did I make?
How I defamed anyone?
Aisha
report me to the editor and see how far you get
I know Adrian from community work and you obvs don’t know him at all !
Left wing eurosceptic, not anti-trans (just pro child safeguarding), does believe racism is a thing. Yes all there at http://www.adrianhart.com. You are setting out to smear me (dont much care) but you are no better than a troll. Nasty stuff.
“not anti-trans” are you sure about that? your liked tweets tell a very different story, there’s so many that you’ve liked that it’s actually weirdly obsessive, i’m hundreds deep and still in march of this year. The majority of these tweets you’ve liked have nothing to do with trans youth or safeguarding either.
I mean can you give an example of how you’re not anti-trans? you don’t even seem to accept that trans people exist, you don’t think they deserve or should have access to gender affirming healthcare, how is that not anti-trans? do you see my point? if you replaced “trans” with “gay” or “disabled” i think most would agree that those opinions are not passive, they’re prejudiced to say the least. So what gives?
ginseng – Its everything to do with child safeguarding as the country, if not many in our city at present, is realising (ie since the Cass Report, since revelations about the unlawful BHCC Toolkit and the rogue Hove GP). All my tweets/re-tweets are about this. Its about vulnerable children in our schools (most are teenage girls, some autistic, often same-sex attracted) who are presumed to be trans despite no clinical diagnosis and placed on a pathway to medical and even surgical intevention. Do you see MY point?
It will be hard to convince you ginseng – I am not ‘anti-trans’ (I want everyone to be who they want to be, dress and love however they like) I am pro the safeguarding of children. Aren’t you?
Adrian was a vote leave activist and pro-brexit campaigner. Given how it has turned out I can see he would like to downgrade that to “eurosceptic” but…. Whatever.
Adrian has argued extensively that racism is over exaggerated and not a significant force in our society because we are all so multicultural now, and the term Hate Crime is meaningless.
Make of this what you will.
No, just voted to leave like 70,000 or so others in B&H. Didn’t campaign. The case made by Left wing eurosceptics influnced my generation (Tony Benn, Peter Shore, Barbara Castle, wee Jeremy Corbyn, all the trade unions). We make no apology. My book on how anti-racism works today tells a story rooted in the visceral and often violent anti-black racism of the 1980s. Yes (the currently surge of anti-semitism notwithstanding) those dark days (including a racism so everyday even my teachers mocked my brown skin) are gone largely thanks to a new era of diversity and integration. Lastly, ‘Conan’ hate crime isn’t meaningless (I’ve had some of that come my way as I suspect you know) but if you want to discuss all this in more detail lets do it using your real name shall we (feel free to message me, or pop round to my house).
I understand Adrian Hart used to teach kids in a tough inner city multi-cultural school in London. In which case he knows what he is talking about when it comes to teaching kids and the damages critical race theory can inflict on their impressionable young minds, and just when racism was almost consigned to the dustbin of history, where it belonged.
(I have to reply here because threads over 4 replies aren’t possible on this website).
Adrian what you just told me isn’t true. I’m talking about your liked tweets, the tweets made by other people that you’ve clicked “like” on. Yes they are public and everyone can see them, the posts you’ve been liking are downright hateful, they don’t even have anything to do with kids they’re literally just attacks on trans people full stop. You can’t say you “want everyone to be who they want to be” when you literally are liking tweets that say trans people don’t exist, that trans people shouldn’t be given the same rights as cis people or the same access to medical care – it’s in direct contradiction with what you’re saying here.
either you’re being purposely obtuse or there’s some severe cognitive dissonance at play. which is it?
I am literally not doing any of the things you accuse me of. The root of the fight to expose the child safegaurding scandal (read Time to Think by ex BBC Newsnight reporter Hannah Barnes, read The Cass Report) is the defence of womens sex based rights. Gender critical belief is worthy of respect in a democratic society. Name me one instance where I attack trans people? If you are happy to crawl out of your annonymity ‘ginseng’ message me at online@adrianhart.com and you can join me and Robert Brown on a panel that debates this topic.Without exception all of the individuals and groups I ‘like’ on twitter or retweet are arguing from a gender critical standpoint and all welcome the Cass Report. Doubtless you regard Cass as transphobic and flawed – you’re welcome to your opinion but, as Cass says, “If you deliberately try to undermine a report that has looked at the evidence of children’s healthcare, then that’s unforgivable. You are putting children at risk by doing that”.
Thank goodness for people like Adrian 👏
Queen’s Park Hustings filmed by Latest TV here: https://youtu.be/M8qDXRRBGpU
Adrian. You have now said specifically that although you voted leave, you didn’t campaign. You have directly denied being a pro Brexit campaigner and vote leave activist.
It is odd then to find a video on Latest TV from 19 Jun 2019 titled “Latest TV News Editor, Mark Walker is joined by Pro-Brexit Campaigner and leave Activist, Adrian Hart.”
This is a 20 min video seemingly featuring yourself describing the history of your vote leave campaigning and pro Brexit activities.
Something is not adding up here.
The referendum was in 2016. It was not possible to campaign for a vote to Leave (aka Brexit) after the vote! To come on to a show 3 years later and discuss why I supported Brexit does not turn me into a 2016 campaigner (I had too much going on to join the campaign in 2016). But if it helps you muster up more contempt for me then lets say that I was a strident and proud leftwing campaigner for Brexit. I’m happy with that. Give up Conan – you are just trying to smear me ahead of the election (good luck to you by the way).
Ok – I do give up with you.
This by-election is taking place because the previous incumbent had a difficult relationship with the truth, and wilfully ignored any degree of evidence which countered their position. Am hoping Queens Park is not about to be landed with another of similar calibre.