Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has made headlines after snapping up a third property, this time in the sought-after seaside enclave of Hove. Known for its elegant Regency architecture and calmer vibe compared to neighbouring Brighton, Hove has become a magnet for Londoners seeking sea views – and, apparently, for high-profile politicians too.
Rayner, divides her time between a £350,000 home in her constituency near Manchester and her central London grace-and-favour flat at Admiralty House in Whitehall, reportedly purchased her latest property as a holiday retreat along the south coast. Locals, however, say life in this picturesque spot isn’t always as idyllic as it looks on Instagram.
Youtuber Willie Explore took his subscribers on a visit to Hove and, according to locals and visitors, there’s one persistent issue that’s hard to ignore.
With its pastel-coloured townhouses, independent cafés, and sweeping sea views, Hove looks like the perfect escape. But there’s one issue that locals say spoils the calm – and it’s not the property prices.
“The problem, of course, is the seagulls of Brighton and Hove,” Willie says later in the video. “They are everywhere, and they pester the locals and tourists for food. They may not try to attack people, that’s for sure, but they are always looking for chips or ice cream.”
He even shares a surprising tip for dealing with the feathered menaces: “I’ve read a study from the University of Exeter, and if you want seagulls to get out of your way, just look them in the eye. Make eye contact – apparently that scares them away. Let me know if you’ve tried that before and if it works.”
Despite the gull problem, Hove continues to attract buyers from across the UK – particularly those looking for a more laid-back lifestyle than Brighton offers. The area’s average house price now sits well above £500,000, and demand shows no sign of slowing down.
Sources close to the Deputy Prime Minister insisted that she required the three-bedroom flat in Hove as a base while carrying out her duties in London.
They added that she was paying the correct council tax on the apartment, which is her third home alongside a constituency property and a grace-and-favour London residence.
Following the news of her new purchase, Tory critics accused Ms Rayner of hypocrisy, pointing to Labour’s crackdown on second homes.
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: “One rule for this condescending hypocritical Labour minister, and a totally different set of rules for the hard-pressed taxpaying silent majority of Britain.”