Decision not to join cabinet leaves Labour without a leader

Bristol's new mayor George Ferguson may have been elected to the post as an Independent but the 65 year old planned to run the city with the support of an all-party coalition cabinet. Yesterday (Sunday) that plan was severely dented with the announcement that the Labour Party in Bristol would not be taking Mr Ferguson's offer of three seats in his new council cabinet.

It was a decision that would not only have consequences for George Ferguson's plans but also the Labour party in the City. At 9pm on Sunday evening, their leader, Peter Hammond resigned from his post with immediate effect. Mr Hammond cited the fact he could not publicly support a decision that ran contrary to the advice he gave.

George Ferguson has said the Labour party's decision not to join his cabinet had left him bemused, but added that he would leave the seats empty and available for a week, in case Labour party officials changed their minds.

Read the full statement from Peter Hammond, announcing his resignation from Bristol's Labour party: