Brighton Greens civil war update

Earlier this month I blogged on the quite extraordinary splits in Brighton's ruling Green Party. Since then, instead of trying to come together, the splits have deepened and their councillors have indulged in some quite spectacularly stupid behaviour.

The Argus reports that rebel Green councillors: "launched a failed coup to remove Coun Kitcat (Council Leader)", reporting that: "One of the rebels Councillor Duncan said he was one of six Green councillors who walked out of the council chamber rather than support Coun Kitcat’s re-election as council leader."

In an extraordinarily stupid political move another of the rebels, Cllr Alex Phillips, tried - via Twitter - to get Labour to vote with the rebels to oust Cllr Kitcat.  Unsurprisingly the exchange ended up in the local paper:

And amazingly, the Argus reports she has avoided disciplinary action for this move.

Councillor Duncan's thoughts on the split can be read in a gloriously spartist post on his personal blog:

"A prominent and much respected local councillor, Alex Phillips, attempted to build a consensus across the party divide between the Green Party, which she is a member of, and the Labour Party, to prevent a rogue Green administration..."

Brighton and Hove Greens attack each other over equal pay

Brighton and Hove Green Party have issued an extraordinary press release attacking their own City administration (leader - the wonderfully named Cllr Jason Kitkat) over plans to end sexism in council pay structures.

The plans equalise historic pay structures so that female staff are paid the same as their male counterparts and as a result a small number of staff will lose out - for which they will receive compensation.

But this isn't enough for the watermelon faction in the local Greens who have attacked the council and vowed to  campaign against it.

Local Green MP, Caroline Lucas said, "Since the negotiations began, I have made my opposition to any cuts in take home pay very clear. I am therefore disappointed that, whilst some will gain from this process, a number will face a reduction in the money they have to live off each week.

"This is unacceptable.  With the support of the local Green Party, I have pledged to campaign against proposals made to workers that will lead to a loss of pay."