Eastbourne county councillor switches political parties

On Friday (February 6), Brett Wright, county councillor for Meads, announced his decision to leave the Liberal Democrats and join the Green Party.

Cllr Wright, who was elected in a by-election in 2023, becomes the Green Party’s first county councillor in Eastbourne. He brings the total number of Green Party county councillors to six.

“It’s been a sad decision for me personally to leave the Lib Dems”, said Cllr Wright.

“At the end of the day, though, I need to belong in [a] political party which better aligns with my values and enables me to put the residents of Meads first.

“As a Green councillor, I now have support from a party that shares my faith that, together, we can make transformative differences to local people’s lives.

“I’ll be getting on with the hard work there is to do, taking an open and collaborative approach with my new Green colleagues as well as those from other parties, to protect our communities from the council’s disastrous Conservative administration.”

Cllr Wright’s decision was welcomed by Rachel Millward, a deputy leader of the national Green Party. She said: “Cllr Brett Wright shares our belief that – by coming together – we can build a fairer, greener country. I look forward to working alongside him in the months and years ahead and know that he will continue to be a passionate advocate for the residents of Meads.”

Cllr David Tutt, leader of the county council’s Liberal Democrat expressed disappointment in Cllr Wright’s decision.

He said: “I have learnt today that Cllr Brett Wright has defected to the Green Party, after he was seen filming a video with them.

“He was elected to East Sussex County Council as a Liberal Democrat councillor by the people of Meads, shortly after Meads elected their first ever Liberal Democrat councillor to Eastbourne Borough Council.

“Residents and Liberal Democrat activists will understandably feel very let down by Cllr Wright’s defection.

“Whilst I am disappointed he has chosen to join the Green Party, given that just 3.9 per cent of people voted Green at the last council election in Meads, I would ask him to consider allowing the residents of Meads to decide who best represents them. Our focus remains fully on standing up for the people of Meads, Eastbourne and East Sussex.”

Cllr Robert Smart, Leader of the Conservative Opposition, said "The honourable course of action is clear. Councillor Wright should resign and fight a by-election under his new colours.

"This is the third resignation from the Eastbourne Liberal Democrats in less than a year, revealing a party more preoccupied with political infighting than the priorities of Eastbourne residents. At a time when the council faces severe financial pressure, residents deserve better than yet another Lib Dem representative walking away from the promises they were elected on."