Ward profile: Moulsecoomb and Bevendean

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean: Candidates, 2011 election results, and a profile of the ward.

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean (Three seats)

Martin Kenig (Conservative)

Robert Knight (Conservative)

Sam Simson (Conservative)

Sirol Hugh-Jones (Green, first choice)

Amelia Mills (Green, third choice)

Leila Simpson (Green, second choice)

Nicolas De Conde (Independent)

Leila Erin-Jenkins (Left Unity)

*Mo Marsh (Labour)

*Anne Meadows (Labour) - @AnneMeadowsBTN

Dan Yates (Labour) - @danieljyates

Bill North  (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)

*Leigh Farrow (UKIP)

Patrick Lowe (UKIP)

Poll watch

By any criteria, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean should not be problematic: a mainly-white, working-class ward that has been represented by three experienced Labour councillors, each with a proven track record of public service and each with a majority of 600 or so.

Until, that is, the mysterious case of Leigh Farrow, shamefully targeted for de-selection by leading figures in Brighton and Hove Labour Party - and then even more shamefully treated when he appealed against the decision.

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Little surprise that he was driven to leave the party; strangely, for a self-avowed socialist, he has decided to switch to UKIP; Patrick Lowe, his fellow UKIP candidate, is a former Conservative candidate.

These truly are extraordinary times.

Insofar as most Labour Party members knew (until today), the Moulsecoomb and Bevendean branch party remained suspended - months after Councillor Farrow was replaced by Daniel Yates - pending an investigation of which nothing had been heard since it was announced.

Mr Yates was the only candidate considered by the two ward members who attended the strangest of selection meetings. Fortunately for Labour, Mr Yates is a decent candidate with a knowledge of the issues facing the city.

2011 election results

Candidates                                    Votes (%)

Mo Marsh (Labour - elected) 1,721 (16%)

Leigh Farrow (Labour - elected) 1,666 (15%)

Anne Meadows (Labour - elected) 1,663 (15%)

Allie Cannell (Green) 1,080 (10%)

Maria Caufield (Conservative) 1,048 (10%)

Cath Slater (Conservative) 863 (8%)

Kelly Dibbert (Green) 852 (8%)

Ayas Fallon-Khan (Conservative) 838 (8%)

Amelia Mills (Green) 772 (7%)

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Dave Bangs (Trade Union and Socialists Against Cuts) 267 (2%)

Factfile (Source: Census 2011)

Households: 5,892

Density (people per hectare): 58

Women: 51% (8,927)

Men: 49% (8,545)

Average age: 32

Higher managerial occupations: 3.4% (490)

Unemployed: 13.8% (1,125)

White: 86.2% (15,068)

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: 3.1% (537)

Asian/Asian British: 5.4% (937)

Number who cannot speak English well: 157

Dependent children in household (% of all households): 31.4%

Christians: 43%

No religion: 43%

Number of same-sex civil partnerships: 66

Divorced: 8%

Living as co-habiting couple: 11.5%

Married: 24%

One family - all aged 65 and over: 4.5%

Lone parent - with dependent children: 13%

No adults in employment, with dependent children: 8.9%

Long-term unemployed: 1.4%

Activities limited a lot by poor health: 8.1%

No cars or vans in household: 38%

No qualifications: 21.9%

Full-time students aged 18 and over: 32.5%

No adults in employment - with dependent children: 8.9%

One person in household with long-term health problem/disability - with dependent children: 7.4%

Elections 2015

See the most up-to-date list of candidates so far selected or declared in the 21 wards

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