GREENWICH Labour's "culture of bullying" appears to be losing it members after another councillor announced she was standing down.

Councillor Hayley Fletcher, who represents Kidbrooke with Hornfair ward, has told the party she will not contest the next election.

News Shopper understands she has cited the Labour Group's political culture and bullying allegations, along with personal reasons, as part of her motivation for going.

Privately, some Labour figures have expressed dismay that the leadership has allowed a young and talented councillor to be lost.

Cllr Fletcher is the second person to give the way Labour is run locally as a reason for standing down, following the announcement of Councillor Alex Grant earlier this year that he would quit over a "culture of bullying" and "sinister threats" that was affecting his health.

And the news comes as Leader of Greenwich Council Councillor Chris Roberts faces investigation following a threatening, sweary voicemail left on a cabinet member's phone.

Next week, the issue is set to be debated at a full council meeting with a string of Tory motions calling for a change in the way the council is run.

One, calling for different parties to chair scrutiny panels, quotes a tweet from Labour parliamentary hopeful Councillor Matthew Pennycook saying: "The decades-old culture of Greenwich politics must change."

Others ask for the council leadership to be elected by secret ballot and for the establishment of area forums.

Labour chief whip Councillor Ray Walker said: "It is true that Councillor Hayley Fletcher is standing down at the next election however those are not the reasons she has given me. 

"Hayley was an effective ward councillor for her constituents, showed a keen grasp of planning issues and will be missed.

"As I have stated in an earlier response Labour Group Officers take any allegations seriously and are fully investigated."

Cllr Fletcher was unavailable for comment.