People across the city will head to the polls on Thursday – here we look at a ward that has, until recent years, been something of a political outlier on Hull City Council
A polling station in the Bricknell ward in 2021(Image: Katie Pugh)
On Thursday, May 7, people in Hull will head to the polls to elect a third of Hull City Council‘s councillors. We asked each of the candidates standing in the Bricknell ward to make their pitch to voters.
The ward’s two councillors, Peter North and Sharon Hofman, were both elected as Labour councillors, but Cllr North left the party, becoming an independent in mid-2025. In this year’s election it is Cllr Hofman’s seat that is up for grabs. She is re-standing for the Labour Party, with four other hopefuls also battling for the seat in the Guildhall.
For many years, the ward saw plenty of success for the Conservative party making it somewhat unusual on Hull City Council which has historically been dominated by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Here’s what each of the candidates had to say when asked why voters should vote for them and what they think the biggest issues in the ward are:
Reform UK: Craig Michael Gadd
“I believe our community deserves strong, honest representation. I served my country in the military. My final deployment in 2010 left me with a life changing injury, but it strengthened my resilience and my positive, can-do approach to challenges. That experience shaped who I am. It gave me discipline, resilience, integrity and a strong sense of duty to others.
“Bricknell is a great area, but like many communities it has been overlooked. I hear the same concerns time and time again. Residents want their green spaces protected and properly maintained. They are frustrated with antisocial behaviour and the rise in dangerous use of electric scooters. Parking around schools has become chaotic and is making roads unsafe for families and children.
“I am not interested in political games. I am focused on practical solutions. That means working with the police to tackle anti social behaviour, protecting our green spaces so families can enjoy them and pushing for sensible parking measures to make our streets safer.
“My military background means I know how to stay calm under pressure, make decisions and follow through. I believe in integrity, accountability and a strong sense of duty. If I say I will do something, I will do everything I can to deliver.
“I have already given a lot in service to this country. Now I want to serve Bricknell Ward and be a strong voice for the people who live here.”
Labour & Co-operative: Sharon Hofman
“I’m one of 4 generations of my family who live in Bricknell ward. I raised my family here and they have continued to make Bricknell their home. I’ve been active in my community for many years, including serving for 18 years as a governor at a local primary school. What’s important to Bricknell residents is important to me.
“I have many years’ experience of working in the public sector, much of which was in Housing, Adult Social Care and Children’s services. This experience means I can support residents with individual issues, helping them to navigate complex and bureaucratic council departments and giving expert advice.
“I’ve worked hard to deliver many improvements in the area, including road safety, environmental and green space enhancements and building community cohesion. There is so much more that I’d like to do and I have lots of schemes in the pipeline that I’d like to see happen because I know, from listening to residents, that they are things that are important to them.
“I want to see our neighbourhood and community continue to receive the attention it deserves and flourish. With my experience as a local councillor and the relationships I’ve built with residents, I know I can deliver more for Bricknell. I’m disappointed at the divisive narrative and suggestions that tactical voting is needed in Bricknell: this is simply not the case. Labour have won the last four local elections in Bricknell because residents see how hard Labour councillors work and have seen the improvements we’ve delivered year on year. A vote for me is a guaranteed vote for an experienced, dedicated, committed and local councillor.”
Liberal Democrats: Darius Kirtiklis
“I’ve lived in HU5 for 18 years, and I care deeply about Bricknell because I’m in touch with local people all the time. I’ve spent years serving residents by running a local restaurant on Newland Avenue. I know the everyday problems that make life harder and the simple fixes that can make a real difference.”
“The main issues I hear about are keeping our area clean and safe: fly-tipping and litter, anti-social behaviour, nuisance motorbikes and dangerous cycling. People want to feel proud of their streets again. That’s why I’m focused on real action, better street cleaning, Bring Out Your Rubbish Days, and more visible patrols to tackle dangerous E-bikes.”
“My promise to local people, regardless of their politics, is to be active, I’ll listen. I’ll keep in touch all year round, ask residents what they want, and take issues straight to the people who can fix them. I’m ready to hit the ground running in Bricknell ward to get people the positive change they deserve.”
Green Party: Dan Montgomery
“People are understandably feeling angered by the managed decline they are seeing both nationally and in the Guildhall. People are ready for change now, and I’m excited for the opportunity to be that change here in Bricknell.
“As a Systems & Data analyst, I know I would be well placed to handle the problem solving required of a councillor. While we have a range of policies to combat the cost-of-living, I would say in Bricknell a priority would be fighting back against congestion and cost of transport by bringing buses back under council control. More people using buses would massively decrease congestion for those who do use cars and vans, and bringing day-riders down from £6 would make a huge difference to those who rely on them.”
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The Conservative candidate (Matilda Sargeson) was unable to comment. The local Conservative Party provided the following:
“We are fielding candidates in all 19 Wards up for election on May 7th as we always do and we have many new young, fresh candidates in each Ward, who will bring energy, vitality and enthusiasm, along with some older heads who will bring experience and determination to improve this City. Previously, we have been squeezed between by the straight challenges between the two left wing Labour and Liberal parties, but this time both locally and nationally, we are sensing from residents that there is discontent with both of them and it is time for a change.
“Labour are a complete mess locally and nationally they are even worse. The Liberals badge themselves as the Party of discontent and change but in Hull it turns out that when they get power, they are just the same left wing ‘yellow socialists’ that Labour are.
“In the four years they have run Hull council they have achieved absolutely nothing whatsoever. The City Centre is the same drab, dirty, unwelcoming place it has been for years. Every one of the regeneration schemes is years late and overbudget, whether that be Albion Street, both Maritime projects or Freetown Way. Nothing happens under the Liberals and as a result the City continues to decline.
“The Liberals lost the Mayoral election last May and have since gone into a sulk and done everything to undermine the Mayor and the Combined Mayoral Authority. They always criticise the Mayor to say nothing has happened under his leadership, whilst undermining him and doing everything they can to delay matters for their own political purposes.
“As Conservatives we will work with East Riding Council under their excellent Conservative Leader and support the CMA and our new Mayor. We have huge economic opportunities if we only work together and make change happen with new jobs and bring prosperity.”
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