Tory council hopeful slams Green administration’s ‘waste’

The Conservative candidate for next month’s Westbourne by-election has slammed the Green Party for a ‘remarkable level of waste’ since taking charge of the city council.

Graham Cox, a former Head of Sussex CID, is standing in the Hove ward after the shock resignation of fellow Tory Brian Oxley earlier this month.

Cox, who is hoping to keep Wesbourne a Conservative-controlled ward, said: “The level of waste that I have seen since May is remarkable.”

He has called for money to be invested in local businesses and has spoken out against the Green Party for proposing a 3.5% increase in council tax rather than accepting a Government proposal of a freeze in the tax in 2012.

Cox, who is also a former Commander of Hove Police Station, has also joined his party’s line in the city by criticising the Greens on travellers and campers, accusing them of having ‘invited’ groups to the city.

“At a time when we need businesses to get back on their feet and start employing again, the Green Party is keen to suck every last penny from the residents of Brighton & Hove. We all have a role to play in getting local businesses moving again. The last thing that we need is money being taken from us that could be spent in local shops. This does not make economic sense, nor is it compassionate. It will hit those close to the edge of poverty the hardest and this is simply not acceptable.”

He added: “If I were confident that the extra cash would be spent wisely then I might take a different view on the matter. The level of waste that I have seen since May is remarkable though and I dread to think how much is being spent clearing up after the travellers and campers that the Green Party has invited to this city on so many occasions.”

The election on 22nd December will be contested by Labour’s Nigel Jenner and the Green Party’s Louisa Greenbaum.

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