ALMOST 90 per cent of Argus readers think the leader of the city council should resign after a damning poll reveals the scale of public outrage against the Green politician.

The overwhelming majority of Argus readers want Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty to step down after he was caught flying to Glasgow to attend COP26 on Friday.

An Argus poll found a staggering 89 per cent of readers agreed that the Brighton and Hove City Council leader should quit following the blunder.

Yesterday, the council did not comment on the leader's future after he received a wave of criticism from politicians and members of the public.

Cllr Mac Cafferty, leader of Brighton and Hove Greens, has apologised for taking a flight of around 1 hour 20 minutes - saying he had been worried his train might be cancelled.

He said: "In the Friday evening just gone, I took a flight from London to Glasgow to attend COP26 where I had been invited to represent the city at a presentation of the Glasgow Declaration on Saturday morning.

“This decision to fly was a major failure of my judgement which goes against my political group’s pledges and principles and I unreservedly apologise."

Green MP Caroline Lucas was also in Glasgow for the conference but confirmed to The Argus that she had travelled by train.

The Argus: Thousands demonstrate in Glasgow Thousands demonstrate in Glasgow

Cllr Mac Cafferty said he had been “concerned about the unreliability of the rail network” which previously left people struggling to get to COP26.

At the end of last month, operators from the east and west coast mainlines advised against people travelling from London to Glasgow amid stormy weather across the UK.

Cllr Mac Cafferty added: “I reluctantly took this very difficult decision because I was concerned about the unreliability of the rail network following the well-publicised difficulties experienced by many people wanting to travel by train to Glasgow the week before, when trains were cancelled.

“I was concerned that this would happen again and I felt it was important not to miss the opportunity to attend the important presentation on behalf of the city, lobby world leaders and share with others the innovative work taking place in Brighton and Hove.

“I paid for my own transport and all associated costs. I am not getting paid for any of the speeches I am making or meetings I am attending and I am otherwise working from Glasgow.

“Transport contributes a large portion of carbon emissions, all significant journeys we make have an effect on our climate. I will be offsetting the carbon cost of my journey.

“I will be taking my return journey on train. Again, I apologise unreservedly.”