The recent letter from the Greens cannot go unanswered. The facts are clear.

If the Greens or the Lib Dems make significant gains in the local elections, a Tory-controlled Brighton and Hove City Council is much more likely because both parties are seriously trying to take seats only off Labour.

So, if the Greens or Lib Dems are successful, the Conservatives will be the largest party and possibly even have a majority.

In order for Simon Williams (Letters, March 10) to be right, his party would have to be a genuine political party that seriously fought all wards in Brighton and Hove.

If the Tories are in complete meltdown, as he says, why are the Greens not able to come close to winning Patcham or Withdean?

In both last year's by-elections, the Greens came a poor fourth.

The fact is the Greens are a small pressure group with no policies covering the main areas of council expenditure, such as education and social services.

When it does come to taking big decisions, such as backing the community stadium, the Greens can't cope and have to abstain.

Nor can I allow Mr Williams's dig at Labour to go unanswered. Did the Tories cut unemployment to less than one million? Did they get inflation and interest rates to their lowest for 50 years and keep them there?

Did the Tories introduce the minimum wage or provide record increases in child benefit and give working families a massive cash boost through tax credits?

Did the Tories give pensioners a £200 a year winter fuel payment or free eye tests?

Are the Tories investing a seven per cent a year real-terms increase in the health service and employing more doctors and nurses, teachers and police officers?

There is a very big difference between Labour and the Tories. It's only short-sighted local candidates who choose not to see it.

-Keith Day, Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton