Green councillors ask Labour to help oust leader

A Green councillor has asked the Labour group to help oust Green council leader Jason Kitcat.

Councillor Alex Phillips approached new Labour leader Councillor Warren Morgan, messaging him in confidence onTwitter.

She said that the Greens were two votes short of being able to oust their leader Councillor Jason Kitcat, who is also the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Some Greens want to replace Councillor Kitcat with Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty at the annual council meeting this afternoon.

They are opposed to his position on the review of pay and allowances for council staff which is expected to mean a cut in take-home earnings for some employees.

Labour said that almost half of the Green councillors had asked them to back them in replacing their leader.

Councillor Morgan said that he had refused to involve the Labour group in Green infighting and added: “The Green Party in Brighton and Hove is now irrevocably split.

“To ask an opposition group to help oust their party leader and choose a new one is utterly desperate and absurd.

“The Greens cannot now reasonably expect to run the city council.

“Residents need a council leadership which can sort out the mess in the town hall and clear up the mess on our streets.

“If they cannot work together, I call on members of the Green group to resign their seats on the council and give residents the chance to elect Labour councillors who will put the interests of residents and the city before petty party political infighting.”