P Dwyer and Vince Wild (Letters, March 15) are certainly not alone with the complete lack of consultation (even on a minimal scale) from Brighton and Hove City Council.

Try talking to its leaseholders to find out.

Not only does the housing department hold all the cards, it also has plenty more stuffed up its sleeves. And if that wasn't bad enough, it just changes the game without telling you.

If you cry foul, you can have a referee to make judgement but he is one of them in the first place and you will have to stump up for the privilege of losing anyway.

So, what's the answer? Well it certainly isn't a case of getting in touch with your councillor, who you might expect to look at both sides of the case.

Nope. Some of them will get in touch with the council department, which will tell them what they want to hear and give them a pair of rose-tinted spectacles (if they weren't wearing them in the first place).

So, off trots your councillor thinking all's well in the world and wondering the best way to get his picture in the Press or on TV once again.

Okay, yes, I have an axe to grind and, like Baldrick, I have a cunning plan.

But mine will work, this time at least.

To conclude, I wish writers would stop lambasting the Labour Party.

I have been a Labour supporter for more than 50 years but what we have now is New Labour, which is an entirely different animal.

I rue the day that great leader John Smith died, letting Tony Blair get his feet under the table.

New Labour should have called itself the Jobs For The Boys Party. A far more apt name all round, I think.

Still, election day is looming so think on, everyone.

-William T Duff, Queensway, Craven Vale, Brighton