COUNCILLOR Roy Walker's most recent letter (April 9) fails to address the issues raised in the Sloggi advert article.

Khalid Hussain, as a Conservative candidate, sought to lay "blame" on the Labour Council for the offence the advert is alleged to give. As for seeking to embrace Christian and Jewish colleagues, are they not also Conservative candidates?

Come on Roy, be honest, this was a cheap Tory election stunt which has spectacularly backfired. It is certainly not an attempt to maintain "standards of decency".

I must also respond to the letter signed by Asif Javed, though I suspect it was drafted by someone else.

To suggest any connection between an expos of a Conservative candidate's double dealings and the tragic murder of Mr Javed's brother is distasteful and disgusting. But it shows the depths to which desperate Tories will sink.

I will simply state that at the time of Mr Tariq Javed's death, Councillor Derek Boden responded on behalf of us all in both passing on condolences and in condemning the actual crime. For myself, I was extensively involved behind the scenes, attending several meetings, including one with the Pakistan Consul General.

However, to insinuate that I do not condemn criminals because they live in my ward is an outrageous slur, as well as being a lie, again demonstrating the depths to which some people will sink in their quest for power.

Finally, I would ask Mr Javed to speak to ex-councillor Pam Walker who was the subject of a malicious smear campaign because she would not tolerate Khalid Hussain's ill-tempered behaviour. She was accused of racism for seeking to preserve good order.

If Mr Javed wants proof, Pam Walker (pr anyone else who was a member of the licensing committee at the time) will provide it. And that would include Councillor Yvonne Creswell, one of Mr Hussain's new "buddies".

COUNCILLOR JOHN BYRNE,

leader of the council.