THE Greens are now the largest party on the council after a second Labour councillor resigned in a day.

Councillor Nichole Brennan quit the party this evening, just hours after another Brighton and Hove City Labour councillor, Kate Knight, resigned over the sharing of alleged anti-Semitic posts.

Cllr Brennan was being investigated after photos of her holding up a sign calling Israel a “racist, apartheid state” were given to The Argus. She is not suspended from the party.

Their departure comes less than a week after the Labour administration was rocked by the suspension of one of its leading councillors, Anne Pissaridou, over the sharing of allegedly anti-Semitic material on social media.

Cllr Pissaridou will remain on the Labour group, however the departure of Cllr Brennan and Cllr Knight means they are no longer the largest group on the council.

Labour council leader Nancy Platts emailed her party on Monday evening: “I have just received notification that Cllr Brennan has resigned from the Labour Party and is no longer a member of the Labour Group.

“I understand the Council will be putting a statement out this evening.

“I will be talking to Geoff (council CEO) and Abraham (law executive) again in the morning."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: "Councillor Nichole Brennan has today resigned from the council’s Labour Group with immediate effect.

"Councillor Brennan is now an independent councillor representing the East Brighton ward in the city.

"We will update as soon as possible on the implications of this announcement for the council."