I confess to being one of the "usual suspects" to whom Ken Bodfish refers, though I did not realise it was a crime to disagree with council policies.

The waste of £150,000 on the where else bid to become European Capital of Culture is only one of the reasons why we oppose this bid.

When Brighton and Hove is suffering severe social, housing, drug and other problems, we and many other people believe it is an appalling waste of time, energy, resources and, yes, money for Brighton and Hove City Council to be concentrating so much effort on yet another prestige bid when these other areas are ignored.

Why can the council not campaign, with other local authorities, for the re-introduction of rent controls and fair rents?

How long is the free market going to be allowed to dictate who can afford one of the most basic and essential of human needs, housing?

Why is the council not lobbying the Government for action in this area? Why is the council going to allow another massive supermarket to take over the Brighton station site?

Are these issues not more deserving of attention that an airy culture bid appealing to a privileged few?

Coun Bodfish is also undoubtedly aware of Disraeli's maxim about lies, damned lies and statistics.

Of course, £150,000 is a tiny percentage of the council budget.

However, given that most council costs are fixed, this money does represent a sizeable chunk of free money.

Why else did the council try to close Knoll House old people's home and Palmeira House for autistic children to save similar sums?

-Tony Greenstein, Secretary, Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers' Centre