The mayor's budget was opposed by eight party colleagues

Cllr Peter Kent-Baguley was among eight members who opposed the mayor's plans to cut 100 jobs and raise council tax by 4.9% in this year's budget.

He was suspended for six months, but has decided to leave the party.

Labour had 30 of the council's 60 seats along with the elected mayor, but the authority says the new balance of power will take several days to become clear.

Mr Kent-Baguley follows the former leader Mick Salih who lost his seat at this month's local elections then left Labour, saying it had become "the Tories in disguise".

I'm leaving behind some very good friends Peter Kent-Baguley

The councillor for Chell and Packmoor says he will represent the ward as a member of the People's Party.

Mr Kent-Baguley told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm leaving behind some very good friends.

"I'm also leaving behind a number of people who seem to spend a great deal of time indulging in personalities and machinations about this clique and that clique rather than getting on with the work they were elected to do - and that is to actually see that this city moves forward," he said.

I regret their decision to leave the party Mayor Mark Meredith

The Mayor Mark Meredith responded to the resignation in a statement saying that putting the city first was always his top priority.

He said: "I can do it better with a united Labour Party supporting me.

"I am sad that one or two members of the group have consistently felt unable to support my 'Stoke-on-Trent first' approach.