To lose one councillor is unfortunate, to lose two, as the saying goes, might indicate a crisis looming.

As this paper reports today, the ruling Labour group on Southampton City Council is reeling from the resignation of two of its members from their posts.

Cabinet member and finance chief Cllr Stephen Barnes-Andrews is quitting his post for personal reasons, although he remains a Labour councillor, at a time when the authority needs a practised eye watching the pennies.

However it will be the loss of fellow councillor Andrew Pope that will raise most eyebrows.

Cllr Pope is not going quietly and leaves to become an independent member of the council amid accusations against his former leader Cllr Simon Letts.

Political spats are hardly unheard of and the city council has enjoyed a relatively quiet period since the resignation of its then leader Cllr Richard Williams and his replacement by Cllr Letts.

And the Labour group still command a safe majority in the council chamber. But instability is never a happy state of affairs when there is a city to run.

With the local elections having only just run their course, the Labour group have time to settle this matter down and get on with business before a small spat becomes a major crisis of confidence.

Anyone who believes local government is boring doesn’t read the small print.