The Green Party has shown a “lack of reflection and humility” following their election defeat, the council leader has said.

Labour won control of the council in local elections in May, with the Green Party reduced from 20 councillors to just seven.

However, in an exclusive interview with The Argus, council leader Bella Sankey claimed that the party had spent the period since the election “convincing themselves that they didn’t get anything wrong”.

She urged the party’s remaining councillors to “reflect on their record” in power and on their election defeat.

Cllr Sankey said: “When you lose an election, it’s painful, and that can bring out all sorts of reactions and emotions.

“On a human level, I have sympathy, but what I have been disappointed by is a total lack of reflection and humility about the scale of their loss. 

“I think instead of blaming us and convincing themselves that they didn’t get anything wrong, 

“They would serve themselves and the city better if they reflected on their record and why they lost so many seats.”

Green councillors and activists have criticised Labour in recent weeks over the council’s decision to review several decisions made by the former Green-led administration.

Although the Greens made gains in other parts of Sussex, becoming the largest party in Lewes, support for the party dropped in Brighton and Hove.

The party’s support dropped by 10 per cent across the city, with the entire Green leadership losing their seats on the city council.

Among them was Hannah Allbrooke, who lost her seat in Brunswick and Adelaide by just six votes.

A Green spokeswoman said: "Cllr Sankey would like Greens to simply be quiet, go away and lick our wounds, letting Labour do whatever they want without opposition - but the Green group are elected councillors who have people to represent and a job to do.

"The election was tough and we've got work to do to rebuild trust, but we do that best by representing our wards and our values, and we will continue to do that every day whether Labour likes it or not.

"This is a time of unprecedented crisis - the defunding of basic services, the cost of living crisis, economic collapse and climate change.

"Greens believe these are systematic problems that need systematic changes and have always been honest about the limitations on local councils to fix those problems.

"Labour has promised otherwise, declaring that they've got solutions to every problem from weeds to recycling to service provision to inflation.

"On behalf of the city, we will make sure that Labour's actions are held up to their promises."