Labour leader Warren Morgan’s continued attempts to talk down Brighton and Hove’s economy are a real kick in the teeth to local business people who have been doing so much to make this one of the top-performing cities in the country (Letters, May 20).

People have suggested to me that it might not be in the Labour leader’s best political interests to see a strong economic recovery in the city – I am beginning to agree with them.

He talks about people being “forced” to set up their own businesses as though entrepreneurship were a bad thing.

In fact, it is the lifeblood of the local economy here in Brighton and Hove, as the latest figures showing a record number of new business start-ups last year demonstrate.

He bemoans a “cost of living crisis” yet was happy to impose an above-inflation council tax increase on residents this year.

He promises that Labour would “give everyone a secure and well-paid job”, conveniently forgetting that it was the previous Labour government’s incompetent mismanagement of the economy that put so many people out of work.

I recently attended the inaugural meeting of the Greater Brighton Economic Board, set up in the wake of the Government awarding us City Deal status.

There was a palpable sense of optimism among leading business people and our partner council leaders about the future of Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas.

City Deal is expected to bring in more than £170 million of public sector investment to the area over the next few years, which in turn could lever in about £1.3 billion from the private sector.

This is in addition to the huge £420 million investment by the Government in the Royal Sussex County Hospital redevelopment.

All of this investment will create large numbers of new jobs for local people.

Come on, Coun Morgan: instead of this constant negativity, please get behind our city and those who are trying to secure a bright future for it. They deserve better.

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative Group on Brighton and Hove City Council