A beleaguered political party has been hit with more bad news after a councillor announced his resignation.

Matt Follett, who represented Hanover and Elm Grove on Brighton and Hove City Council, said he was stepping down because he was moving away from the area.

The news came as a poll on the Argus website revealed 80% of readers believe the Greens are “not fit” to run the city council.

Opposition parties claimed the latest blow to the Greens showed the party was “in disarray”.

But officials insisted there was “no relationship” between Mr Follett’s resignation and Thursday’s failed attempt to oust council leader Jason Kitcat.

Yesterday, Coun Alex Phillips told a website she was “truly sorry” after she sent secret messages to Labour group leader Warren Morgan in a doomed attempt to overthrow the council leader.

She wrote: “I apologise unreservedly for approaching Warren Morgan, the leader of Brighton and Hove Labour, in the way that I did. It was a naive and damaging mistake.

“I want to be clear that I was speaking for no one but myself. I didn’t discuss contacting Warren Morgan with any of my council colleagues or any other members of the party in advance.

“I apologise especially to members who will rightly feel let down by this error of judgement.”

After Mr Follett’s resignation, the council’s chief executive is now expected to announce a by-election in the next few days.

Conservative group leader Geoffrey Theobald said he had “never known a council like this in all my experience”.

He said: “I’m sure those who voted them in would not have expected in two years to see them in disarray.

“When Coun Kitcat started as leader a year ago presumably he would have had all their support. In 12 months he has gone losing half of them.”

Mr Follett said: “I will be stepping down from Brighton and Hove City Council on May 24 as I am to moving to live with my family in another part of the country.

“The Green Party is fortunate to have such a diligent group leader in Jason Kitcat.”

Coun Kitcat said: “I wish Matt and his family all the very best for the future.”