Regarding the 12,000 missing people in Brighton and Hove (The Argus, October 24), this is a poor attempt by the council and Government to apportion blame on the National Statistics Office for the unnecessary increase in council tax.

Just how depraved are these politicians who bleed the life out of honest citizens and try to blame others?

The Government knew all along what it was doing. Even if it had been Conservative, the result would have been the same.

The fact is the Treasury is short of cash and will use any devious method it can to raise tax.

The council should resign in protest at John Prescott's inability to give the correct amounts to councils - or are councils lying so as to hide financial incompetence?

-J Evans, Brighton