Labour activist Raymond Barnes says the Green Party is showing its true colours by voting against a coalition with Labour and the Liberal Democrats that would “oust” the Conservative administration (Letters, August 15). I can only speculate but perhaps the elected Green Party councillors simply did not want to throw in their lot with the same Labour councillors who left Brighton to rot, quite literally, for more than 20 years before the Conservatives won enough seats to form a majority in the 2007 local council elections.

As a lifelong Conservative supporter I am no fan of the Green Party. However, its ability to add fresh young talent to its ranks is admirable and I wholeheartedly believe that even though it may disagree on the best path to take, both Conservatives and Greens have a vision for this city that goes beyond political horse trading and back room deals the local Labour Party is resorting to in its final breaths of life.

Mr Barnes may want to put his red rosette away because Labour had 20 years in charge to prove itself – and failed spectacularly. The future for Brighton and Hove is blue and green.

Mike Macfarlane
Marine Parade, Brighton