Editing Brighton and Hove (section)

== Unification ==
[[File:Peace Statue, Hove-3769266609.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The [[Peace Statue, Brighton|Peace Statue]] on the seafront marks the border between Brighton and Hove]]
[[Local Government Commission for England (1992)|In 1992, a government commission was set up]] to conduct a structural review of local government arrangements across England. In its draft proposals for East Sussex, the commission suggested two separate [[unitary authorities]] be created for the towns of Brighton and Hove, with the latter authority to include Hove, [[Worthing]] and the [[Adur District]].<ref name="LGCE">{{cite web|date=December 1994|title=Final Recommendations for the Future Local Government of East Sussex|url=http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/research/reports-1992-2002/str-east-sussex-final-recs-dec1994.pdf|access-date=19 May 2021|publisher=Local Government Commission For England|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604191411/http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/research/reports-1992-2002/str-east-sussex-final-recs-dec1994.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> Support within Brighton for its own unitary authority was high, however respondents in Hove expressed reservations towards a merger with Worthing and Adur. A report following consultation noted that more than 25% of respondents in both Brighton and Hove had "unprompted, indicated support for a merger of those two areas." Although this option had not been included in the draft proposals, subsequent polling indicated that the merger was the most popular option among residents.<ref name=LGCE />

Nevertheless, the proposal of a merger proved controversial, particularly in Hove. [[Borough of Hove|Hove]] Borough Council opposed the move on the grounds that Brighton would dominate affairs in the city, and the commission acknowledged that residents of Hove "have significant negative feelings towards Brighton" and greater identification towards [[Sussex]].<ref name=LGCE /> Ultimately, the view was taken that support for a single tier of government in both towns outweighed opposition to unification, and as a result the commission recommended that the [[borough council]]s of [[Borough of Brighton|Brighton]] and Hove be made a single unitary authority independent of [[East Sussex County Council]]. In 1997, Brighton and Hove Borough Council was formed, and assumed responsibility for all matters of local government across both towns.

Twenty years earlier, as part of the [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Queen's Silver Jubilee]] celebrations, Brighton had been shortlisted as a candidate for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]], though eventually lost out to larger [[Derby]]. Following unification of the towns, Brighton and Hove applied for city status again as part of the [[millennium celebrations|Millennium]] City Status Competition, and was subsequently granted city status on 31 January 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56109/page/1431|title=Page 1431 &#124; Issue 56109, 5 February 2001 &#124; London Gazette &#124; The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> As a result, the borough council became a [[City status in the United Kingdom#City councils|city council]].

Although the city now operates as a single entity, locals generally still consider Brighton and Hove to be separate settlements with different identities. Hove is largely residential and has its own distinct seafront and established town centre located around George Street, while Brighton has a higher profile as the country's most popular [[seaside resort]], a significant digital economy, and hosts several festivals of national prominence. Recognition of the city's twin identities is evident from the continued popularity of the local saying [[Hove#"Hove, actually"|"Hove, actually"]], a phrase which long predates unification.

Some organisations such as the local football club, [[Brighton and Hove Albion]], and the bus company [[Brighton & Hove (bus company)|Brighton & Hove]], predate the unification of the towns by several decades.

In 2014, Brighton and Hove formed the [[Greater Brighton City Region]] with neighbouring local authorities.<ref name="bh-2014"/>