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Labour tops the Euro poll in Brighton and Hove

Leading Labour figures in Brighton and Hove are claiming the European Parliament Election results today will see the city council and all three parliamentary seats return to Labour in the 2015 local and General Elections.

Cllr Warren Morgan

Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group on Brighton and Hove City Council Councillor Warren Morgan, said: “Our win in the Hanover by-election last year, our lead across the city in opinion polls, yesterday’s poll of the marginals, and now this show we are best placed to win. Our work on the doorstep has won back many local voters to Labour and our positive policies will show we are an administration in waiting. If elected we will deliver good quality, basic services to local people. These election results show that a year from now, with continued hard work, Labour can look forward to winning a majority of city council and getting on with the job of improving local services for Brighton and Hove.”

Total votes cast in Brighton and Hove:

Labour: 20,414

Green: 18, 586

Conservative: 15, 626

UKIP: 14, 205

Lib Dem: 4025
Melanie DavisMelanie Davis, chair of the Brighton, Hove and District Labour Party, said: “After four years of hard work, explaining why Labour is a better choice than the Greens, Tories, LibDems OR UKIP, we’re delighted by tonight’s result. I’m sure all of our councillors, council candidates and Parliamentary candidates will now look towards next year’s elections with renewed confidence that our message is being heard loud and clear.”  

Purna Sen Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, Purna Sen added: “This result shows that local people are more interested in effective government than in mere protest. I’m confident that a year from now, the voters of Brighton Pavilion will vote for real change instead of just the illusion of change. Labour stands for opposition and proposing practical policies, instead of just protesting. The next Parliament will make decisions that matter massively to the city, the country and, indeed, the planet. Work to address climate change, economic inequality, education and the NHS cannot wait. Only Labour can offer a genuine and practical alternative to the coalition.“

Peter KyleHove and Portslade Parliamentary candidate for Labour Peter Kyle said: “It’s time to bring jobs and growth back to our communities and tonight’s election shows voters in Hove believe Labour is the best choice to do just that. This result reflects what people have been telling me throughout the constituency. For all the talk of a “Big Society”, the coalition have spent four years making Britain a less inclusive place, something clearly opposed by the voters of Hove. I look forward to working hard over the next year, as Labour continues to convince voters that as the party with the best record on social issues, ours would be the best party to deliver in government.”

Nancy Platts
Nancy Platts

Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven Parliamentary candidate Nancy Platts, concluded saying: “Over the last four years, issues like zero hours contracts and rising energy bills have made life ever more precarious for working families. Voters across the constituency are turning back to Labour’s positive policies on the minimum wage and a commitment to secure employment.”

Nationally it was UKIP’S night as they topped the polls in what their leader Nigel Farage hailed as “the most extraordinary result in British politics in more than 100 years”. Labour came second helped by a strong showing in London with the Conservatives coming a close. The Greens came fourth with Molly Scott Cato picking up a seat for them in the South West of England.

Across Europe far right parties won in France, Denmark, Austria, Hungary and Greece while the left stood firm in Ireland and Germany where worryingly the first neo-Nazi MEP from the Hitler apologists of the National Democratic party of Germany was expected to be returned.

David Cameron the Prime Minister, said: “The message from the public was received and understood” but insisted voters will back the Conservatives next year.

Simon Kirby MP
SImon Kirby MP

Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, added: “People have voted at these Euro elections as a way to send a variety of messages. Many people think that the EU is not working for Britain. We need to fix that relationship, deliver real change and make it work for Britain, and then give people a say on the result through an in/out referendum.”

“Locally over 60% of people didn’t vote on Thursday and results were mixed with Labour coming a poor fifth place in Lewes District (part of the Brighton Kemptown constituency) which includes Peacehaven Telscombe Cliffs and East Saltdean.

“I shall continue working hard for everyone, no matter how they vote right up to May 2015. It’s easy to be obsessed with elections. I’m just getting on with the job serving the people of Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven.”

Green MEP Keith Taylor was re-elected in the South East, but hopes for a second seat for Alex Phillips did not materialise.

Keith Taylor MEPKeith said: “I am honoured to have been re-elected as an MEP for South East England. At this election Greens offered voters hope, whilst others peddled fear and division. As an MEP for South East England I will stand up for my constituents, wherever they come from and however they choose to live their lives. It’s my honour to be back in Brussels working to make the EU more democratic and less dominated by big business.”

Green support across the city held up. They polled a strong second place, surprising many opponements who had claimed that they would not win significant support among voters this time following months of internal fighting in the local Party.  They managed to top the poll in the Brighton Pavilion constituency presently held by Caroline Lucas, MP.

Lisa Murray, Chair of Brighton and Hove Green Party, said: “Other parties had been quick to write us off in the city, especially with the near media blackout compared to UKIP, yet the city result shows that we are holding our own here, proving strong support for Green values, confounding all the critics and ensuring thousands of votes to help re-elect Greens to Europe.”

She added: “We’re not taking anything for granted but, from the close race city-wide with Labour, it looks likely we are ahead of all the other parties in Brighton Pavilion constituency – so it’s a strong launch pad for the elections next year.”

Nationally it was a dreadful night for the Liberal Democrats who came in fifth behind the Green party losing all their seats except for one in the South East.

Norman Baker MPNorman Baker, Minister of State at the Home Office and Lib Dem MP for Lewes, said: “The Lib Dem results in the Euro elections were pretty terrible and there’s no point pretending otherwise, though I am delighted that our local Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder has been re-elected. We fought an honest pro-Europe campaign, and took on Nigel Farage, something both Labour and Tories were scared to do. Sadly being pro-Europe is not where the zeitgeist is at the moment.

“It would however be wrong to read too much into what for a great many people is simply an opportunity for a protest vote. For example, in 2009, the Lib Dems came 3rd in the Euro vote in Lewes and a year later held the parliamentary seat with a majority of almost 8000”.

The South Easts MEPs now are:

Ukip: Janice Atkinson, Nigel Farage, Ray Finch, Diane James,

Conservative Party: Richard Ashworth, Nirj Deva, Dan Hannan,

Labour:  Anneliese Dodds

Green Party: Keith Taylor

Liberal Democrats: Catherine Bearder

 

With just one region to be declared the State of the Parties are:

UKIP: 24 MEPs with 29.1% share of the vote

LABOUR: 20 MEPs with 25.4% share of the vote

CONSERVATIVE: 19 MEPs with 7.9% share of the vote

LIB DEMs: 1 MEP with 6.9% share of the vote

OTHERS: 3 MEPS with 6.3% share of the vote

Scotland is still to declare

Voter turnout was 36%

 

 

 

 

 

Newcastle hotels drop rates for Northern Pride

Newcastle hotels drop rates to attract visitors to Newcastle Pride in July.

Newcastle PrideNewcastle Pride, one of the biggest free LGBT festivals in the UK, returns to Newcastle from Friday July 18 to Sunday July 20.

The family-friendly event, which runs across two city sites, will feature headline performances by artists including Sinitta, Shayne Ward and the Vengaboys, as well as a host of entertainment for all ages.

Many of the city’s top hotels are now running special ‘Pride’ offers to coincide with the three-day event, with a whole host of deals available to cater for the 65,000 visitors expected to attend.

This includes the New Northumbria Hotel, Jesmond, the boutique Grey Street Hotel, the Copthorne Hotel, close to Newcastle’s popular quayside, the award-winning Hotel Indigo Newcastle and the Vermont Hotel and Sleeperz , both in the city centre, which are all offering heavily reduced rates for one, two or three night stays, with many including breakfast.

Some hotels, such as the Thistle County Hotel opposite the city’s central station, are also offering additional benefits, including complimentary luggage holding and a discount in their in-house restaurant to Pride revellers.

Business Improvement District Company, NE1Ltd, are sponsoring Northern Pride’s Main Stage.

Sean Bullick, their Chief Executive, said: “Newcastle Pride is a huge event for Newcastle and the North East as a whole and it’s fantastic to see so many businesses supporting the festival by offering special discounts to those planning to attend.

“I’m sure those travelling from across the UK and further afield will make the most of these offers during Pride and hopefully it will encourage them to visit the city again at a later date.”

Newcastle Pride, now its seventh year, is organised annually by North East LGBT charity Northern Pride.

This year’s event, which will be split between Newcastle’s Town Moor and a second stage in the city centre, will feature high profile performances by a host of well-known stars and emerging talent, as well as a variety of non-music events taking place throughout the weekend.

This includes a parade through the streets of Newcastle on Saturday July 19 and a host of market stalls, a fun fair and various themed zones, ranging from a family zone to a health zone, which will be open on Saturday and Sunday.

Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, said: “This is the first time in its history that Newcastle Pride will run for more than one day and we’re delighted that so many of the cites top hotels have agreed to support the newly-extended line-up by making it more affordable for visitors to stay and enjoy all three days.”

For more information about the hotels running special offers for Newcastle Pride 2014, CLICK HERE:

For more information about Newcastle Pride, CLICK HERE:

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Brighton Bear Weekender 2014

Brighton Bear WeekenderThe Beary Bumper Raffle will be centrepiece of the bears weekend fundraising activities.

Now in its fourth year, The Brighton Bear Weekender is the highlight of the year for Brighton’s Bear community. This year it takes place over the weekend starting Friday, June 20. The event brings hundreds of visitors to the city and in the last two years has raised more than £3,500 for the Rainbow Fund.

The celebrations kick off with a pre-weekend Quiz night at the Camelford Arms on Thursday, June 19 starting at 9pm. Get there early, better still have dinner at the Camelford that evening before the quiz begins so you don’t have to worry about getting a table. Entry to the Quiz is £2 per person.

The first official event is the Welcome Night with cabaret from 8-11pm at the Royal Oak in St James Street hosted by Mysterry where you can meet the organisers and collect your wristbands and other pre-ordered items. The party moves to Subline at 11pm for Bear Cave with DJ Bozzy Bear.

Brighton Bear Weekender

For those not suffering a hangover after Bear Cave you can join the Bears for breakfast at the Royal Oak at 10am on Saturday morning before getting ready for the legendary Bears Picnic in Queen’s Park from 2-4pm.

Bears Picnic in Queens Park
Bears Picnic in Queens Park

Lunch Positive will be providing one of their fabulous pop-up cafes providing low cost snacks and healthy salads, but sadly dogs are not allowed in Queen’s Park. The party moves to the Basement Club at Legends from 8-11pm ending up at Envy for Come to Daddy at 10pm.

Sunday’s mega line-up of events starts at noon with Sunday Roasts at the Camelford Arms and Royal Oak (bookings essential) moving on to an alternative Sunday Roasting at the Brighton Sauna from 3pm. Bear Bust at the Camelford runs till 8pm, followed by drinks at Legends till 10pm, finishing off with the popular Fur Foam Party at Subline from 10pm till very late. Wear old shoes or flip flops and trunks or undies.

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To help sustain Brighton Bear Weekender and take advantage of some of the great merchandising deals on offer you can buy a wrist band costing just £5.

For full details, CLICK HERE:

Prowler Brighton are now stocking and selling both the Brighton Bearweekender T-shirts and wristbands also on a cash only basis. All profits raised from Prowler sales will go to The Rainbow Fund.

Wristbands will also be on sale at Prowler Soho and Shoreditch for London Bears.

Fundraising during the weekend will benefit the Rainbow Fund who give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations providing front line services to LGBT people through an independent grants programme.

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The main focus of the fundraising effort will be a Beary Bumper Raffle which takes place at the Bear Bust at the Camelford Arms on Sunday, June 22, from 3pm. The list of prizes at the moment includes: two tickets to the musical Into the Woods at Emporium; two tickets to any film at the Duke of York’s cinema; an orchid from Planted Florists; afternoon tea for two at the Grand Hotel; two $50 gift vouchers for BURLYSHIRTS; a private capsule for up to six people on the Brighton Wheel; two tickets for the comedy club at Komedia; two tickets for a production at Old Market Theatre; bottle of champagne from Legends; bottle of Cava; bottle of Gordon’s Gin; bottle of Australian Chardonnay Viognier 2012; a haircut or Reiki relaxation session from Kevin at Twomey Hair; £25 gift card from Prowler; £25 gift card from Nice ‘n’ Naughty; two tickets to the Wild Fruit event during Brighton Pride (2nd August 2014); two tickets to Perfume Garden, Brighton’s legendary hard dance club (any event this year); a stained glass course worth £125 from David Lilly at Simply Stained Glass (near Brighton)… and more to come!

 

REVIEW: Adopting our 2 Dads

Having two years ago purchased Panzini’s and Karmer’s previous book Some people have two Dads we, as a family, were keen to read their new book and excited to be asked to review it.

Adopting our two dads

Laid out in the same way as the previous books with the same simple, affective illustrations our 7 and 9 year old kids recognised it immediately. So sat comfortably in the lounge on a Sunday afternoon, with us Dads squashed between them both on the large sofa, we opened it up and began to read.

As I read it out loud the kids kept looking at each other with big smiles on their faces as they recognised their life in the pages. The roles of the two dads, one at work and one at home rang true for our kids and they were enthralled as each page was turned.

Both kids pointed at the pictures, again relating them to us. Their voices punctured my reading with small gasps of recognition and the reading was often interrupted as it opened up discussions about their adoption social workers and their journeys to us. All the points touched on in this family book were things that our two had either already experienced or would be facing in the coming months.

When we had come to the end of the book Katy, herself only being a matter of weeks away from her day with the Judge, was keen to share her views. She told us that she thought the book was brilliant, she mentioned that the part about meeting the judge and the picture with it had helped her feel a little less worried about her soon to arrive Celebration day. She also mentioned that she felt it would be a good book to have in schools so that other children could understand what it was like to be adopted and she requested a copy to show her school friends. When I asked Bradley what he thought about the book, he stuck both his two thumbs up and with his huge smile on his face said “I loved it Dad”.

As adoptive father’s, with the end now clearly in sight for the adoption process of our daughter, we were very pleased with it. As with Some people have two Dads, this book is easy to read, beautifully illustrated and explains the process on a level that all children can understand.

The fact that it is laid out in the same way as the previous publications helps children that already know the series of books to feel comfortable in picking it up and having a read as a bond of trust has already been built between reader and author.

For new readers, whether it be a parent or child, the books simple lay out, bright illustrations and easy to read wording makes it an ideal instrument to start the conversation with any child on a subject that is now increasingly becoming accepted in society.

Anything that helps educate children, reassure them and open up communication has to be welcomed and shared. So if you have recently started the adoption process, if you have a child placed with you or you are a professional involved in the adoption of children, we as a family, would highly recommend that this book becomes a welcome part of the package, whether it be a way of easing a child’s worries or a tool at schools and libraries to educate other people, it has to be a good thing to have.

This simple, beautiful book not only shows that same sex couples make ideal parents but it also gives a glimpse into the adoption process and shows that maybe isn’t as difficult to talk about and understand as you might have first thought.

Review by: Syd Spencer

The book is now available on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk

To watch a video of a reading the book, CLICK HERE:

 

 

 

 

PREVIEW: The Blue Camel Club at Brighton Corn Exchange

Blue Camel Club – a Carousel project – will be hosting a club night on Monday, June 23 at Brighton Corn Exchange.

Blue Camel Club

Picture the scene. A massive dance floor in a beautiful old building in central Brighton. On stage the brilliant dance tunes of The Dancing Rock Queens, TV sensation Daniel Wakeford, melodic vocalist Catherine O’Rorke or the bouncing Unified Rhythm.

On the big screen, Oska Bright films and live VJ’s. Add a pay bar, radio chill-out room and plenty of space to talk to your friends, meet new ones and dance your socks off. That’s the Blue Camel Club, where learning disabled people come to have the best night out.

Tickets are £5 per person, carers £1. Buy on the door or in advance from The Dome Box Office on 01273 709709 or CLICK HERE:

The Blue Camel Club is a Carousel Project, the arts charity that supports learning disabled people to achieve their creative ambitions.

The Carousel organisation was founded in 1982, and promotes active involvement of people with learning disabilities in the arts through various projects such as the Blue Camel Club.

For more details about the Carousel organisation CLICK HERE:

What: The Blue Camel Club

When: Monday, June 23.

Time: 7 – 10pm

Where: Brighton Corn Exchange

Price: £5 per person, carers £1

REVIEW: Away from Home

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Away from Home

Marlborough Theatre, Princes Street, Brighton

Friday, May 22

Kyle is comfortable with his life as a male escort until he is hired by a premiership footballer, making him question his values, relationships and the whole direction of his life.

An edgy, subversive award-winning one-man show – laced with sharp humour. With not one openly gay footballer in the UK professional game, Away From Home goes in for a hard tackle on footballs last taboo in a cool, direct in your face way. This is a hard edged exploration of respect, heroes, honesty and what happens when one man’s world’s, which have been kept very carefully apart slowly start to collide with a mounting velocity and rip everything apart.

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Rob Ward gives us a quick flash of his butt then flies straight into character on stage, he’s answering back, explaining, pleading, lying, twisting, being so economical with the truth that he’s cutting it out from underneath him, then bam! A punter turns up who’s also a premier footballer.  It’s one fine balancing act too far and suddenly his life starts to unwind while taking on what appears to be a real upwards momentum.  Ward takes us through the funny first time with his famous football trick with great humour, and he kept the audience laughing a lot with his savage asides and inter rivalry comments about footballers and their chants. He kept the audience hanging on every word and also interested, not always an easy balance for a one man show to achieve.

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The plot takes a lot in, life, lies, being an ordinary lad who just happens to be bent and be a huge football fan, being northern, sex work, family expectations, being out, being closeted, death, the fleeting chance of love . I got a bit tired of the huge family events after a while, car crash, cancer, exposure, etc but that might just be me and my aversion to clichés in life, but they do happen (as my companions pointed out), I just wonder if they all happen quite so fast and so often, but this is drama after all, and a narrative must have motion and this is one thing that writers Rob Ward and Martin Jameson have most certainly nailed, foot to the floor, bang!

See more info on the play here on their website

There was terrific passion and tension on stage. Ward does cornered and edgy cocky young queer very well, he also does camp older pimp with a certain alacrity too, which made me laugh. It might be a game of two halfs but this is play of one man and one winning team. 

Its subject matter is as fresh as it’s production and Wards passionate and convincing acting is the thing that carries this piece of writing to it’s tender and honest conclusion. I like a play that surprises me, and Away from Home did that.

Contains partial nudity, coarse language and explicit content.

We were impressed, book now!

Runs until Monday 26

 

 

‘Pride Literature Live’ returns to Preston Park

Pride Literature Live, the LGBT literature tent hosted by Brighton & Hove Libraries and East Sussex Libraries and Information Services returns to Preston Park in August.

Pride Literature Live

An inclusive, interesting and a haven of inspiration and humour with a touch of politics, last year’s Pride Literature Live saw writers from across East Sussex perform their work to an audience of over 1700 people as this pioneering event highlighted the best of national and local LGBT writing.

One of the Pride Literature Live’s organisers Rachel Whitbread explains the plans for 2014.

She said: “We think it’s really important for there to be more of a cultural presence at Pride – we want to showcase LGBT shared culture through writing, allowing people to express their own creativity, enabling people to pass on their stories and highlight a cultural identity that lasts beyond the party in the park.

“This year we want a greater emphasis on local authors both published, self published or new to writing. Last year the audience loved the open mic section where local people from the workshops we had held read their own work. This year we are going to run three workshops, one for 16-19 year olds in Brighton Library, one for adults in Brighton Library and one for adults in Lewes Library. We are also approaching local authors and poets who are published or self-published to read their work on the day.

“We will be highlighting our range of services and engaging the community in literacy and writing and demonstrating how reading or being read to can enhance people’s lives. The response to the tent last year showed that many LGBT valued hearing those stories. Pride also allows us to showcase what we offer to the LGBT community and let people know about the wealth of library services we provide throughout the year”.

What: Pride Brighton & Hove 2014: Freedom To Live

Where: Pride Festival Preston Park

 

When:   Saturday, August 2

Time: 12noon – 10pm.

Tickets: £9 /£12.50 Early Bird tickets sold out. Discounted £15 advance (first release) until end of May. Then £17.50 in June /£20 in July and more on the day.

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