Councillor Pat Murphy served to highlight the glaring inconsistencies of Labour Party policy in Brighton and Hove.

It talks about offering people choice but it abhors the fact people wish to own their own house and were given that choice during the Eighties under the Conservatives' right-to-buy scheme.

Coun Murphy quite rightly points out that 5,000 people in our city benefited from such a policy and this is something to be commended.

The Labour Party believes the answer to housing problems in the South-East is to build all over the green belt to increase supply.

Yet when it comes to cars, it believes the answer is the opposite and that in no way, shape or form do we need extra roads or parking solutions as part of an integrated transport policy.

It all comes down to a question of choice. Conservative policies put faith in families and society to make the right decisions for themselves, giving them freedom and opportunity.

The Labour Party believes it knows best. If it can't take away all your money through tax, it will tell you how you should spend the rest.

If local politicians are ever going to re-engage with local people, it is about time they listened to what they were saying rather than treating us with the "we know best", condescending attitude which prevails at the moment.

-Jonathan Sheppard, Coombe Road, Brighton