Daniel Yates, leader of the Labour Party in Brighton and leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, is to stand down later this month.

In a statement on Twitter, Yates said: “Being leader has been the greatest privilege and biggest challenge, but it’s has left me exhausted for all sorts of reasons.”

He said he will continue as leader until May 22nd, and remain sitting on the City Council as a councillor.

Yates added: “I’m also tired of having to be seen as the local face of a party which is increasingly risking its reputation values and traditions over anti-Semitism and Brexit.”

The news comes only a day after it was announced that Labour would seek to run the council with the support of the Green Party, after local elections saw the Greens make massive gains at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives.

Yates described the two parties having manifestos that were “separated at birth” and hoped that a ‘progressive alliance’ can be reached.

“The housing crisis, the homeless and the climate change emergency will not wait while politicians jockey for party political advantage,” he said.

“I truly believe that this approach will be beneficial for the city as a whole and enable us to deliver on our promises made on the doorstep.”

East Brighton councillor and former Brighton Pavilion candidate Nancy Platts has announced her intention to run for the leadership.

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