How long have the Greens got left?

This was the question that town hall insiders were asking after the Cityclean pay dispute highlighted a huge rift in the party in Brighton and Hove.

While some Green councillors were defending the decision to revamp the system of allowances, others – including the council’s deputy leader – were picking up placards and addressing workers claiming they never supported the move.

Councillor Alex Phillips has already suggested council leader Jason Kitcat should resign over the issue.

Politicians of all colours have been asking how long Coun Kitcat would last.

But the embattled council leader told The Argus that he had no intention of stepping down.

Coun Kitcat said: “I’m absolutely committed to the job.

“I was recently re-elected unopposed by the party as convenor of the Green group and as the convenor of the largest party I’m committed to that.”

He admitted there was a lot of political pressure on him but said he would not be making promises to workers.

Coun Kitcat said: “I’m not trying to play to that image.”

In January, at a private meeting, the Green group agreed to support the plan to hand over negotiations to unelected officers.

This was then agreed publicly at a meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee.

But since then, a number of senior Greens have publicly opposed the move.

Green councillor Mike Jones joined Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas at the Cityclean depot on Thursday morning.

With dozens of Cityclean staff marching to Brighton Town Hall, a number of Green councillors joined them.

Among them was Liz Wakefield, who voted to hand over negotiations to officers in January.

Deputy council leader Phelim MacCafferty addressed workers claiming the Green Party did not support the moves to cut salaries.

Some Green councillors tried to draft a motion for Thursday’s full council meeting to get control of the talks handed back to the councillors, and not the head of paid service, Penny Thompson.

Opposition councillors reported Coun MacCafferty was pulling colleagues out of Thursday’s meetings to speak to them privately outside the chamber.

However the motion was never presented publicly.

One senior Green councillor said: “We only had a leadership election a few weeks ago and no-one challenged Jason.

“People should put their money where their mouth is.

“If they want to challenge they should do it the proper way.

“I do not know how Jason is carrying on, to be honest.

“Within the group it’s becoming very personal.”

Former Tory council leader Mary Mears said she did not think Coun Kitcat could last much longer.

Coun Mears said: “I think the Greens have basically lost the plot.

“In any administration you deal with some really difficult things. But if you do not have conversations I really do not know where they are.”

Former Labour council leader Steve Bassam said he thought Coun Kitcat’s position was “untenable”.

Lord Bassam said: “No town or city should be left in this state.

“People want decisive and capable administrations, not posture politics.”

Coun MacCafferty did not comment despite The Argus attempting to contact him frequently throughout Friday.