Brighton demo against DUP deal

Various speakers voiced their concerns over the Democratic Unionist Party, but remained hopeful over Labour’s advances on the Conservative majority after the general election on June 8.

Daniel Yates, Labour councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, said: “Our city believes in social consciousness and this is something that this coalition will not condone.”

Much of the concern from protesters was over the DUP’s alleged anti-gay marriage, anti-LGBT rights and anti-abortion stance, and also at what the Wall Street Journal has called ‘their attempts to play kingmaker’.

Trans-woman Sophie Cook, who was the Labour candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham, said: “A lot of people voted for a country that’s more caring and a country that’s more diverse. They voted for LGBT rights, against austerity and on Thursday, 20,882 people voted for the first ever trans woman to become a member of parliament.”

The protesters met at The Level and then around 150 people walked up to Brighton railway station and then back down onto London Road.

Miss Cook said: “Since Brexit and since Trump, the world has started to realise that people power can make a difference and it nearly did in this election. Now it is our obligation to not give up the fight until we have a Labour prime minister.”

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Brighton Kemptown MP who snatched the seat for Labour against the Conservative Simon Kirby, was set to speak at the protest, but said he could not make the protest because he was otherwise engaged in the Houses of Parliament.

He sent a message to be read at the event, which said Theresa May’s government was in disarray and Parliament was shocked by Labour’s increase in strength.

John Rogers, chairman of the Brighton Pavilion Labour Party, said: “This is a crucial time for us to not take the pressure of the government.”