It is all very well David Panter trying to defend the indefensible but where were Councillors Bodfish and Turner?

They were the architects of the culture before cash or, as I prefer to call it, the prestige before people policy.

Taking money away from bodies least able to defend themselves, then running for cover when a national figure attacks them doesn't say much for either their credibility or their political courage.

The policy to cut grants to community and voluntary organisations was Labour's and Labour's alone and it should have been Labour politicians trying to defend it.

At best, Mr Panter is guilty of an error of judgement. He should remember it is very unwise for an official who draws his salary from public funds to appear to become the tool, willing or otherwise, of just one political party.

He almost certainly will have to work with an administration that includes councillors from other parties in the future.

As for the tone of Mr Panter's article, he may have thought he was being clever padding it out with personal attacks on Ms Burchill - after all, there was very little substance in it.

But he should remember Ms Burchill is still a resident of Brighton and Hove and is entitled to put her views as much as anybody else.

We've reached a desperate stage if every time a resident attacks the council's policies, Labour wheels out Mr Panter to defend them. He won't have time to do anything else.

-Paul Elgood, Leader, Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats