What I don't know and what I do

That’s it now.

The polls have closed in Brighton and Hove and there is nothing more that we can to try to achieve a Labour majority Council.

I don’t know what the results will be – and I suspect that anyone who thinks they do will be wrong (in that, even if their predictions turn out to be correct that will simply be by chance). There are just too many unknown variables to enable prediction.

Four years ago, when we last fought all these seats, we did so alongside a General Election (which led to an unanticipated Tory majority nationally). The turnout in these local elections (without an accompanying General Election) will be considerably lower.

In the past four years so much has changed. Our Party has begun a process of transformation (which is still underway) – and has achieved significant increases in support (for example in the 2017 General Election and in various local victories along the south coast).

Also, of course, we have seen the tragic outcome of the 2016 Referendum and its aftermath – the continuing dominance of national politics by the unresolvable conundrum of Brexit. That may have impacts in our local elections which may magnify our advantages where we face the Tories – but mitigate them where we face the Greens.

Or maybe not.

I’m not pretending to know what the results of the local elections will be

What I do know is that I am very proud of the campaign which Labour has waged in Brighton and Hove.

I am proud of the candidates we selected (and grateful to all those who participated in selections – including the comrades from Worthing who came over and helped provide independent Chairs).

I am proud of the socialist manifesto we developed through an inclusive process of engagement with our mass membership and beyond (and grateful to every member who participated in the process).

I am proud of the media and social media campaigning which secured us positive coverage in the face of various difficulties (and grateful to the comrades – who know who they are – who did this work).

Most of all, I am proud to be part of a vibrant, democratic Labour Party which can bring together so many good people to struggle to create a better world.