FORMER Labour leader Joy Garner has become the third councillor to quit the party's Stoke-on-Trent City Council group since Mike Barnes took charge less than three weeks ago.

The 47-year-old, who has served on the authority for the past seven years, announced her resignation last night, but added she would rejoin the 13-strong group "if circumstances change".

The current council portfolio holder for the environment had been considering her political future after resigning as the group's chief whip following a meeting on Monday.

At the time, she said she was unhappy with the way her group was being led and wanted to take time out to recover from health problems.

Councillor Joan Bell was first to resign last Tuesday, just days after councillor Barnes won the ballot to become group leader. She also resigned from the party.

Councillor Dave Conway quit after walking out of Monday's meeting to discuss the new party leader's campaign to become council leader.

Mrs Garner, of Tunstall, said: "Reluctantly I have placed myself outside the city council Labour group due to issues with the present leadership of the group.

"I will continue to be a member of the Labour party and wholeheartedly support the Government and national party.

"I do not rule out rejoining the Labour group if circumstances change in future."

Mr Barnes said: "I'm obviously saddened that Mrs Garner, pictured below, has left the group, but she has not made me aware of any issues with leadership, despite my attempts to contact her.

"There have been issues in the group for some time.

"The group wants to move forward and anyone that doesn't want to move with it has to do what they feel is right."

He added: "There are no signs that anyone else wishes to leave. We are now getting down to a core number of people that want to work together."

Resignations and whisperings of dissatisfaction with the leadership have also been dogging the national Labour Party.

Yesterday, Newcastle MP Paul Farrelly denied accusations by chief whip Nick Brown that he was ringleading a plot to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He claimed the finger was pointed at him to flush out the MPs behind the plot.

He said: "It's an unacceptable style of government that, if it's not changed, will lead my precious Labour Party into oblivion.

"For what he [the chief whip] has done, he should really consider his position."

Stoke South MP Rob Flello has come out in support of Gordon Brown.

Mr Flello said: "Gordon is the best placed person to lead us through the economic downturn – he knows everyone on the world stage and has a decade's experience at the Treasury."

Meanwhile Stoke Central MP Mark Fisher said: "We will know by Sunday what the results of the elections are and that will give us a much clearer picture."