Labour’s  co-leader of the opposition, Cllr Carmen Appich writing in Brighton & Hove News about Trans Pride 2022 and more:

Last weekend started with the amazingly busy, noisy and colourful Trans Pride Brighton.

It was great to see a huge turnout – someone told me there were 22,000 people spread out over the entire day!

I and other Labour colleagues including Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP joined the march from Jubilee Library to Brunswick Square – and I stayed to listen to some music and have a chat with a few of our residents.

This long-awaited “in person” return of Trans Pride was hugely successful and well organised.

Anyone wanting to donate funds towards next year’s event can do so here.

On Sunday, I joined a small “Stop Rwanda” demo organised by Care 4 Calais, and listened to speeches from Care 4 Calais, Detention Action, Brighton and Hove Trades Council and Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP about the cruelty of the government’s deportation policy.

The suffering of refugees and asylum-seekers awaiting decision is unimaginable. I’m sure many readers are aware that none of the candidates for the prime ministerial race have spoken against this policy which is in effect punishing people who have arrived on our shores seeking sanctuary.

They claim this is a popular policy. I would very strongly refute that claim. That is not the British people I have come to know in my 45 years in this country.

I do hope that the legal action now rescheduled for September is successful and stops this cruel and unusual policy. You can keep in touch with the campaign at https://care4calais.org…

To read Cllr Appich’s column in full, click here.