BHCC were the first city in the UK to gain the title 20 years ago. Now they have become the first to scrap the title for economic reasons.

The SmashEDO group have pointed out on numerous occasions that by leasing land to the warmongers EDO MBM Technology Ltd at Home Farm Business Park, Moulsecoomb, the Council are not living up to their commitments as a UN Peace Messenger City. Now they have become the first to scrap the title for economic reasons.

On the one hand its correct to say that the title has been an excuse of councillors to fly around the world on free ozone unfriendly flights, but getting rid of the title also prevents any further appearence of conflict of interest for the warmonger landlords BHCC at home

BHCC have by this action declared themselves to be the UK's first international war messenger city.

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The Argus

Brighton and Hove relinquishes "peace messanger" title

By Louise Acford

Councillors have torn up Brighton and Hove's costly peace messenger status.

The city has been a member of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities (IAPMC) for 20 years - along with Geneva, Buenos Aires, Rome and Tokyo.

But members have voted against staying in the scheme following an investigation by The Argus which revealed peace messanger status was costing taxpayers thousands of pounds.

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The move will be seen as a huge snub at a time when a Brian Fitch, a Brighton and Hove councillor, is the organisation's Secretary General.

Coun Fitch said: "We're very conscious of the need to keep council tax as low as possible so every bit that's given up helps.

"There has been a lot of feeling that we have to reduce our carbon footprint so air travel, if it's reduced, is one of the ways we can make a positive contribution."

The council will save £2,000 a year by leaving the organisation.

Labour members of the council's powerful policy and resources committee proposed the move and they were backed by the Conservatives.

In December last year, The Argus reported Coun Fitch had travelled 33,000 miles to cities including New York, Warsaw and Venezuelan capital Caracas in his role as the city's "peace messenger".

He came under fire from fellow councillors who criticised the trips, which cost £3,500 over two years, as a waste of money and bad for the environment.

Mr Fitch refused to comment on speculation the decision to withdraw from the association was as a result of the criticism.

He said he would continue to work with the organisation on a local level and said it was planning an event on Hove Lawns later in the year.

He said: "I voted to leave the association because I am chairman of the committee and I always vote in line with the other members."

Mr Fitch was replaced as "peace messenger" by Green party councillor Keith Taylor, who reacted angrily to the council's decision to quit the association.

He said: "I'm shocked at this decision, which came with neither warning nor explanation, and share the deep hurt that will be felt by the thousands of believers in peace who will feel let down by this callous act.

"I have been working alongside peace groups to mark this year's 20th anniversary of city membership of IAPMC, and this news will come as a real blow.

"There was no explanation whatsoever given for this move. The Labour party in Brighton and Hove has made a massive miscalculation if it believes there isn't continuing support in the city for peace and human rights."