Mark Strong of the Green Party has been elected as the new councillor for the Queen’s Park ward in Brighton, following a by-election held on Thursday, 24 September 2026. The result, declared on Friday, sees the Green Party further increase its representation on Brighton & Hove City Council as the Labour majority narrows.
Mr Strong secured 1,139 votes, defeating the Labour candidate Steve Gladwin, who received 802 votes. The result gives the Green Party a majority of 337 in the ward. The voter turnout was recorded at 33.36%, with a total of 2,281 votes cast.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Milla Gauge in August 2026. While both seats in the ward were originally won by Labour candidates in 2023, both have now transitioned to the Green Party via subsequent by-elections, including a Green gain in September 2025.
Impact on Council Composition
While Brighton & Hove City Council remains under Labour majority control, the party’s lead has thinned following a string of recent by-election losses. Labour now holds 31 of the 54 seats on the council. The Green Group has grown to 12 seats, bolstered by this result and a previous win in the Goldsmid ward in June 2026.
The full breakdown of candidates for the Queen’s Park poll was:
- Mark Strong (Green Party): 1,139
- Steve Gladwin (Labour Party): 802
- John Shepherd (Reform UK): 160
- Stefan Speckesser (Conservative and Unionist Party): 97
- Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan (Liberal Democrats): 74
Official data and full candidate details are available via the Brighton & Hove City Council election results service.
The current composition of the 54-seat council stands at: Labour (31), Green (12), Conservative (5), Independents (4), and Brighton & Hove Independents (2). No further by-elections are currently scheduled.
