Judging by the contributions from Brian Oxley, Christopher Hawtree, Carol Ramsden and others (Opinion, April 25), the Tories are so desperate for votes they are trying to whip up disaffection with Labour by writing in as many letters as possible criticising Brighton and Hove City Council.

Only weeks ago, many on these pages called for less negative campaigning.

But here are the same people attacking Labour through the council because they know they have lost the real argument on subjects that matter, such as the economy, jobs, healthcare and education.

They are desperate because their party becomes more extreme and moves further to the right by the day, indulging in petty xenophobia and speculation about who will oust William Hague after a dismal showing at the polls.

The Tories are desperate because they know a second-term Labour government will tackle child poverty, rebuild the NHS and reform our state school system, leading to defeat for them again in five years' time.

The Tories are desperate because unemployment, inflation and mortgage rates are at their lowest for more than 30 years and the national debt they ran up has been halved.

They are desperate because they know their policies of tax cuts for the rich and cuts in public spending for the rest of us are about as popular as driving rain on a bank holiday.

-Warren Morgan, Maresfield Road, Brighton