By James Clarke BBC News, Brighton

Brighton and Hove Albion want to build a 22,000-seater stadium

The long-running saga of Brighton and Hove Albion's plans for a new stadium could affect the outcome in the city at the forthcoming general election.

The inquiry into plans for a stadium at Falmer has not closed and John Prescott has yet to make a decision.

It has been suggested by some fans that the verdict has been deliberately delayed until after the election.

Labour holds all three seats in Brighton and Hove, where most of the club's fans live.

Brighton and Hove Albion applied in 2001 for permission to build a 22,000-seater ground at Falmer.

The club has said there is no site in the city other than Falmer where a stadium could be built.

Fans have left Labour in no doubt they want a 'yes' verdict

A "no" verdict from Mr Prescott would send the club back to the drawing board, and could see thousands of the Seagulls' fans deserting Labour in protest.

Brighton Kemptown, Brighton Pavilion and Hove all turned from blue to red during the 1997 Labour landslide.

All three constituencies stayed in Labour's hands in 2001, with majorities of at least 3,000.

When Labour held its conference at the Brighton Centre last September thousands of fans marched along the seafront to show their desire for a new stadium.

Some Falmer residents will be voting in the Lewes constituency but with that seat held by the Liberal Democrats any anti-Labour feeling over the stadium issue is less likely to have a major impact there.

But Sussex is a traditional Conservative stronghold and the Brighton and Hove seats are among those the Tories would want to win back if they are to return to power or at least slash the Labour majority in the Commons.