Thank you for voting Labour in Goldsmid (May 2007)

On 3 May Councillor Melanie Davis (pictured above with Gordon Brown) was elected as one of Goldsmid's representatives on Brighton & Hove City Council. She wishes to say 'thank you' to all those who supported her.

Email melanie.davis@brighton-hove.gov.uk if you have any questions for Melanie who is the Opposition Spokesperson on culture. She holds regular surgeries and details of those are here.

Here's the text from Melanie and Vince Meegan's newsletter to residents after the election:

"I am writing to thank you for your continuing support and to update you on our work locally.

First of all it’s thanks to you we have retained a Labour Councillor in Goldsmid Ward – so thanks again!

In the year leading up to the elections we worked hard on the doorstep, getting to know as many local residents as possible. Our vote held up well here compared to the rest of the City and we retained one of our two seats.

Reflecting on the whole City’s political picture, the Tories are the biggest party and therefore have the Leadership – though not with an overall majority. We will work hard to reduce the damage that this could do to the citizens of Brighton and Hove.

I have been fortunate to become the Opposition Spokesperson for Culture, Recreation and Art, and a member of Environment Committee. I will be resisting any Tory cuts that would undermine the fantastic work the previous City Council achieved to make this city such an exciting and vibrant place to live. You will I hope have already noticed my efforts to ensure there is proper consultation on proposed new communal bins in the area.

In Goldsmid, despite the complications a split ward brings, I will continue to work hard for the ward and bring residents’ issues to the attention of the City Council and the public.

We sadly lost Vince Meegan who has a fantastic record working for local residents - he will be back. Alun Jones did not make it this time either, but continues with his commitments and hard work for the local party and the community.

I have monthly advice surgeries at either end of the ward. These are held on the first Saturday of every month at the following times: 10am-11am at All Saints Church; 11.30am-12.30pm at Vallance Community Centre, Conway Court, in Sackville Road. A local Police Community Support Officer will be there, please come along.

The Goldsmid Labour website www.goldsmid.com will continue to be updated so please check on that regularly. My direct phone line is 01273 290353 and email address is melanie.davis@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Please contact me if you have any issues or concerns. Do make contact with us by email so we can write and inform you directly of news and events."

Melanie Davis

Labour’s values ‘alive and well’ - Vince Meegan

"This is the first opportunity I've had to thank all those people who worked so hard for Labour during the election.

It was a difficult campaign and I was very disappointed to discover former supporters who were voting 'Green' to punish Tony Blair. Our message that a vote for the Greens or Lib Dems was a vote for the Tories was all too accurate, but perhaps if we had have told the electorate more about the Green Party's record of supporting the Tories in Council, their irrational and unpredictable positions on every issue, the voters might have reconsidered. Nor did we spend enough time emphasising the transformation and regeneration of the city under Labour. Despite that, I am sure that it was the unfortunate national political climate that cost us so many councillors.

Many of you will know that I have been a life long supporter of the Labour Party. Indeed I can remember attending fund raisers in Miner's Welfare Nissen huts in the 1960's! People with pitifully little money gave their coppers to support their party that had introduced the welfare state and health service. They were the soul of Labour and so proud of their achievements, delivering policies that were the envy of the world. Times have changed a great deal since then. But I like to think our Labour movement is essentially the same, with the same core values alive and well.

I am of course disappointed that we did not hold my seat on the Council, but take comfort that we managed to get Melanie elected. Melanie is enthusiastic and dedicated and will be an excellent, hard-working councillor. I trust her and her colleagues to keep our standard flying until we once more gain control of the city.

To all of you who voted for Mel, Alun and myself I extend my sincere thanks. To those of you who decided not to vote this time or to make a 'protest' vote, I thank you for your past support and do hope that you will come 'home' to Labour in the General Election."

Vince Meegan