Brighton ‘is a dump all year’ claims Conservative council leader

Neil Parkin was responding to criticism of Adur and Worthing Councils work to keep the area’s town centres looking attractive.

The subject had been raised by Worthing’s Labour group leader Beccy Cooper at a meeting on Tuesday night.

In response Mr Parkin said: “She obviously has not been to the socialist republic of Brighton and Hove and seen what a dump that is.

“As somebody who travels to both places, Worthing is quite lovely most of the time. Winter it’s a bit grey but the rest of the time it’s quite lovely.

“Brighton is a dump nearly all year, in fact all year.”

Nancy Platts, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, has called on Mr Parkin to apologise to her residents.

She said: “I have been working very constructively with other council leaders across the region to lead on the economic recovery for all of us - recognising that people work and live in different towns and cities within the Greater Brighton area.

“Councillor Parkin’s comments are not only damaging to Brighton & Hove as the major city in the region which delivers hundreds of thousands of jobs and millions of pounds to the local economy; but also to the whole region.

“I’m proud of our city and what we are doing to recover from the Covid pandemic and would not dream of making derogatory comments about a neighbouring area – especially at such a sensitive time. I hope that Councillor Parkin will now apologise to the people of Brighton & Hove and withdraw his unfortunate comments.”

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