ONE of Labour’s top councillors in Southampton has quit the party’s front bench after a row over weekly bin collections.

Councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews, the Labour group’s former finance spokesman, is said to be unhappy with leader Richard William’s refusal in an interview with the Echo to commit to keeping weekly collections.

It sparked a political row and party bosses were forced to issue a clarification insisting Labour wanted to keep once-a-week bin rounds.

The ruling Tories seized on it as a “U-turn” and questioned who was leading the Labour party in the city.

It is understood days earlier unions representing city bin men had been told by Labour the weekly collections of household waste were safe.

Cllr Barnes-Andrews dec-lined to discuss the bin comments saying it was an “internal matter” but a Labour source said: “He’s made it very clear that he won’t work with Richard Williams again because of the fiasco with the weekly bin collections.”

Cllr Barnes-Andrews, who is standing for re-election in Bevois in the May 3 elections, said: “There are no more shadow cabinet meetings now and then Richard will announce his Cabinet if we win the election. It’s up to him to decide who’s in it.”

Asked whether he would serve under Cllr Williams again he said: “I don’t think so, I think my role is on the back benches. I’ve got enough to do in Bevois. That will keep me fully occupied if I’m fortunate enough to win.”

Tory council leader Royston Smith said: “Stephen was the most capable and credible of all the people serving on Labour’s front bench. Richard William’s leadership is spectacularly unravelling.”

Lib Dem group leader Adrian Vinson said: “I have a very high regard for Cllr Barnes-Andrews and have had the pleasure of serving under him on scrutiny for the past couple of years.”

Council officers are holding secret meetings with leading Labour councillors to get them up to speed in preparation for a possible Labour administration.