For John Parry to advise electors to - "short of a good kick in the crutch" - vote for "anyone except Labour" reveals the contempt with which he views the duties of local government.

Local electors have the serious responsibility of deciding which party offers the most encouraging and practical prospect for the future of the district where they live.

To ask us to vote for "anybody", presumably providing he or she is warm, upright and mobile, demeans both the importance of local government and our dignity as thoughtful individuals.

Let him have his political prejudices but I trust he will learn to portray them with careful reasoned arguments, without crude metaphors.

-R G Jenkins, Hove