How timely it was for Ivor Caplin to pen a letter to The Argus (July 18).

In a week when more than one million council workers took strike action, London ground to a standstill because of industrial action taken by London Underground staff and it was announced that Brighton and Hove citizens could well be stung with a 14 per cent council tax rise, it is probably understandable that the MP for Hove wants to look backwards rather than offering any views on the problems facing present-day Brighton and Hove.

It is not surprising the Labour Party wants to ask questions as opposed to providing any answers. I am sure residents in Brighton and Hove would like to know what views the trinity of Labour MPs hold on a variety of issues, including congestion charging or whether they support the £5-a-week tax for rubbish collection proposed by a Labour Party think-tank.

The time has come to get down to real issues rather than engaging in petty party politics. This only brings the political system into disrepute.

-Coun Brian Oxley, Leader of the Conservative group, Brighton and Hove City Council