Councillor Mary Mears’s article in your story Town Hall Power Battle (The Argus December 21) illustrates why the Tories lost control of the city council.

“The residents have never voted for a rainbow coalition,” she writes.

No, but we did not vote for single-party Tory rule either.

In the 2007 local elections, Coun Mears’s party won 26 of the 54 council seats – not a majority.

They got more than 50% of the votes in just five of the 21 wards.

It is time the Tory councillors faced up to realities.

They do not represent majority opinion in the city and since the Goldsmid by-election in July they have been in a clear minority on the council, even with the Independent councillor who usually supports them.

The other parties have learnt to work together and agree on common policies.

The Tories should get out of their bunker and do likewise.

Tom Lines St Peter’s Place Brighton