The Argus • 05/09/2025

Sussex politicians share mixed reactions to Angela Rayner's resignation

Peter Kyle, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, praised the now former deputy prime minister after she was forced to resign due to not paying enough stamp duty in her purchase of a £800,000 flat in Hove. Mr Kyle said: "Angela Rayner is someone who's dedicated her life to making Britain a place where everyone can succeed. "Let us remember that she is the embodiment of social mobility and an inspiration to many people and many young women, in particular. "Having been told she’d never amo...

The Argus • 05/09/2025

Deputy prime minister resigns from government after Hove flat 'mistake'

Ethics watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus said Angela Rayner had “acted with integrity and with a dedicated and exemplary commitment to public service” but concluded she breached the ministerial code after she underpaid stamp duty on her seaside flat in Hove. Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, paid £40,000 less on the £800,000 property than she should have, as she claimed it was her main home rather than a second home. In a resignation letter on Friday, Ms Rayner said: “I have long be...

The Argus • 05/09/2025

'Hove is better than this' - MPs condemn vandalism outside Angela Rayner's flat

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said he was "disappointed" that someone defaced walls outside Angela Rayner's flat in Hove. The word “b***” along with a much larger sign saying “tax evader!” were daubed on a white wall on the outside of the property yesterday (September 4). Across the road, “Tax evader Rayner” and “Rayner tax avoidance” were graffitied on construction chipboard. The matter is being treated as criminal damage by Sussex Police, who are making enquiries. It c...

The Argus • 04/09/2025

Prime minister condemns 'appalling' vandalism of deputy's Hove seaside flat

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned vandalism at Angela Rayner’s flat in Hove after she admitted underpaying stamp duty on the property. A Downing Street spokesman said: “Some of you may have seen the photos of the vandalism of the Deputy Prime Minister’s home this morning. “The Prime Minister condemns this vandalism in the strongest possible terms. “Whatever scrutiny our parliamentarians may face, it is appalling that their private homes should be targeted in this way.”Graffiti daubed cl...

The Argus • 04/09/2025

Vandalism of deputy prime minister's seaside flat being investigated by police

Sussex Police said they are aware of graffiti outside an address in Hove and that the matter is being treated as criminal damage. The force said it is proactively making enquiries to gather information as to the circumstances. A spokesman said: "We will be contacting the homeowner to identify and address any further concerns. "Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting serial 528 of 04/09." Graffiti daubed outside the apartment building in Hove, East Sussex, where Depu...

The Argus • 04/09/2025

Updates as council cleans up graffiti from deputy prime minister's flat

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The Argus • 04/09/2025

Deputy prime minister's £800,000 seaside flat vandalised

Angela Rayner's flat in Hove has been graffitied with the term "tax evader" following her admission yesterday that she had made a “mistake” and referred herself to standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus. The word “b***” along with a much larger sign saying “tax evader!” have been pictured on a white wall on the outside of the property. Across the road, “Tax evader Rayner” and “Rayner tax avoidance” have been graffitied on construction chipboard. A spokesperson for Angela Rayner said van...

The Argus • 02/09/2025

Protesters slam council for 'undemocratic' plans to remove historic landmark

A group of more than a dozen Save Hove Floral Clock protesters took over Palmeira Square, Hove on Friday evening to "stand up" against the council's proposal to remove the 70-year-old floral clock in the middle of the square. Brighton and Hove City Council recently announced plans to revamp the gardens at the northern end of Palmeira Square. The site will undergo a re-landscaping and a re-planting scheme, but the council has proposed to remove the floral clock which they say is "beyond r...

The Argus • 01/09/2025

Plan unveiled to transform rubbish-plagued 'gateway to city'

Councillors Jacob Allen and Jacob Taylor, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, outlined their proposals. They said they want to work with Southern, National Rail and businesses across Queen's Road to spruce up the area and drive the visitor economy.  The area is currently a hotspot for rubbish and antisocial behaviour, with police regularly parked up outside dealing with issues stemming from the homeless community that are based there. Jacob Allen explained that his role...

The Argus • 26/08/2025

Young mum suddenly died after being found unconscious in Brighton

Melissa Core died in Brighton on January 8 this year, while homeless. She was originally from Finglas, Ireland and had been struggling with mental health and addiction issues in the last years of her life. The 34-year-old had been under the care of Brighton and Hove City Council adult safeguarding services, and had disclosed mental health concerns to outreach workers, her family said. Her mother Barbara, along with her sister Emily Kearns, believe Melissa’s death was the result of “r...

The Argus • 25/08/2025

Jewish memorial forced to move as city council start square makeover

Brighton and Hove City Council will be giving the garden at the northern end of Palmeira Square, Hove a revamp. As well as the controversial removal of a floral clock which has been there for seven decades, they will also be removing the memorial to the victims of the October 7 incident.  Heidi Bachram, organiser of the Palmeira Memorial Group, said: “We are so thankful to everyone who has supported us. "The hardy group of volunteers who turned up in all weathers to hold services are...

The Argus • 23/08/2025

Council leader says ‘extremists’ are hijacking St George’s Cross

Residents discovered the flags on the A259 between Rottingdean and Peacehaven on Friday morning. They have also been appearing across the country in recent days as part of a national movement called “Operation Raise the Colours”. Councillor Zoe Nicholson, leader of Lewes District Council, said that though there are many “positive cultural associations” with St George’s Cross it is being “hijacked” to promote “extremist ideologies”. She said: "There are many positive cultural associat...

The Argus • 23/08/2025

Removal of historic landmark described as 'shocking' and a 'disgusting' act

On Thursday, Brighton and Hove City Council announced that it will be giving the garden at the northern end of Palmeira Square, Hove a makeover. As part of this, the council is removing the more than 70-year-old floral clock due to it being "beyond repair". Councillor Alistair McNair, leader of the Conservative Group in Brighton and Hove, has said that whilst it is "good" to hear that Palmeira Square will be relandscaped, but that the floral clock being removed will leave many "shocked"....

The Argus • 23/08/2025

Anti-immigration protests take place outside hotel

Sussex Police said that it was aware of a "planned" protest outside the Park Hotel in Chichester on Friday. The hotel is understood to be housing asylum seekers. The Argus understands that approximately 100 protesters were present, whilst around 30 counter-protestors were present. A man was detained outside the hotel under section 50 of the Police Reform Act, after refusing to provide details to police when asked. Upon providing police with his details, he was de-arrested. A...

The Argus • 23/08/2025

Five areas where our seafront is changing to become the 'most iconic' in the UK

Brighton and Hove City Council approved the creation of the Seafront Development Board in July, featuring Lord Bassam and city councillors Jacob Taylor, Julie Cattell and Birgit Miller among others. The board will be tasked with advising on the strategic development, commercial future regeneration and sustainable management of the city's seafront – from Saltdean to Portslade. Speaking to the Argus, deputy chairman of the board Jacob Taylor, Cllr Cattell and Cllr Miller detailed their amb...

The Argus • 21/08/2025

70-year-old landmark to be scrapped and gardens shut off amid council makeover

Brighton and Hove City Council will be giving the garden at the northern end of Palmeira Square, Hove a makeover. As part of this, it is removing the floral clock due to it being "beyond repair".  Councillor Alan Robins, cabinet member for sports, recreation and libraries, said: “We know how important the square is as a community space and appreciate the temporary closure of this site will impact local people and communities, but this area is in need of improvement and some investment an...

The Argus • 21/08/2025

Museum to be home for Albion's official exhibition

Brighton and Hove Museums and Brighton & Hove Albion FC have announced that the exhibition will be open from August 2026, just in time for the Seagulls' 125th anniversary. At a special event in front of the Royal Pavilion to announce the new partnership, Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums, said that this exhibition is "exactly what the city needs". Hedley Swain CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums (Image: Ramy Abou-Setta / The Argus) He told The Argus: "We need to be telling the Albi...

The Argus • 19/08/2025

Instagram influencer said 'twisted' stalker 'damaged my mind'

The American influencer Alexandra Saper travelled to Portsmouth on Friday morning to deliver her message in person. Before she could speak, stalker Rob Keating, of Old Crawley Road, Horsham, stormed out of the dock after declaring his trial had been a 'farce'. The 39-year-old was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of two offences of stalking involving fear of violence against Ms Saper. Ms Saper had detailed more than two years of torment at the hands of Keating who will be sentenced...

The Argus • 18/08/2025

MP urges Morrisons to either 'build on or sell' town centre site

Chris Ward, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has urged the supermarket giant to either build the promised new store and town centre at the Meridian centre in Peacehaven, or to sell the land so that "someone else can". The MP said that Morrisons' inaction has been going on for "too long" and that residents "have had enough". He added: "Peacehaven deserves a proper town centre and supermarket – and Morrisons need to deliver on their promises. "They have had years to get this pr...

The Argus • 15/08/2025

Teenage boy filmed man as he lay dying in the street

The 17-year-old recorded a video of local man Paul Lawrence, 51, who had been killed in Gladonian Road in the early hours of 28 January, 2024. He then shared it on social media, according to Sussex Police. The Littlehampton teenager pleaded guilty to sending a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, and possession of cannabis. At Worthing Youth Court on Thursday 14 August, he was given a 12-...