I enjoy irony as much as the next person and may well find it more amusing than many of my peers.

However, there is always the risk that it descends into farce without those involved being fully cognisant.

It is particularly concerning that the leaders of three of the four political parties in Brighton and Hove have fallen over the edge at the same time.

Whatever decision is taken on our behalf by those we elect to lead us, regarding naked dancing in the Top Totty and Pussycat clubs, a grasp of reality is needed somewhere.

According to the front page of The Argus (August 17), Councillor Ken Bodfish is keen to avoid the city degenerating into a place synonymous with booze, boobs and bare bodies, Councillor Peltzer Dunn personally disapproves and Councillor Taylor would be the first to close down these clubs if he could.

Would all three leaders and their parties like to consider, beyond these rather wonderful soundbites, what they are able to do to lift Brighton and Hove up to a standard that is synonymous with real freedom, rather than the tacky version of what already passes for it in places.

The apparent lack of power to hold such consents at bay are not such a problem in other parts of our nation.

According to William Ellery Channing, an early leader of the Unitarians "The only freedom worth possessing is that which gives enlargement to a people's energy, intellect and virtues".

That would be a standard we could all benefit from, as disappointing as it may be for some of the potential customers of these clubs who may need to continue to travel to Camden.

-Ian Chisnall, Brighton