IT WAS interesting to see Cllrs Airey and Barry backing each other over the new cabinet.

Having jointly been responsible for prolonging the MBI hold on the leadership of the council, the Greens and the Tories are now supporting each other in trying to suggest there is really no need for an opposition.

Well, I'm sorry gentlemen, Labour disagrees. Opposition is an honourable and necessary part of any democracy; you only have to look at the disreputable list of despots and dictators throughout the world that have tried to dispense with the need for one to see why.

It is not as if there has not been anything to oppose over the last two years. Let me give some examples. In each case Labour has consistently opposed the MBI and we believe events have proved us right; in each case either the Greens or Tories or both have backed them.

The plan to demolish 250 houses in Ryelands, launched by Cllrs Heath, Airey and Broad before they had even consulted residents. As a result, over two years has been wasted, suspicion and distrust have increased, and not a thing has been done to improve housing or community safety.

The cultural services review, initially supported by the Tories, the Greens and the MBI, with the damaging plans to move the museum to the town hall.

Only Labour's vigorous opposition gave Cllr Barry the opportunity to execute one of his neat political pirouettes and try to align himself with the protesters.

The damaging reorganisation of the town hall, which was done in such a cack-handed manner, has done so much to damage staff morale and was supported up to the hilt by the Greens and the Tories.

Only now are the bills starting to come in.

The last finance committee heard that this would cost £1.2 million in additional pension fund contributions along with a possible £0.5 million envisaged for future reorganisations.

So far all we have seen is downsizing of staff at the sharp end and higher salaries for top officers.

The saga of Bubbles.

Not just the recent debacle with Kalber in which MBIs, Tories (and Liberal Democrats on this occasion) were happy to see negotiations continue until the directors were disqualified, but the previous, ill-fated Westwell plan backed by the Greens as well.

No-one has so much as dipped a toe in the water of the pool as a result of two years of failed plans, indecision and delay. In truth, there exists neither an agreement on policy nor, in the case of the MBI, the necessary trust between individuals that would enable Labour to enter into a coalition.

The Greens and Tories between them may wish to continue to manufacture cabinet fig leaves for the MBI -- we, for our part, will do our best to tear them away.

Cllr Ian Barker

Deputy Leader

Labour Group

Would that be Doctor Barker? How nice to hear from you directly.

Can we take it from your letter that, in your view, the current coalition could never run the place to the same sparkling standard that you, Stan Henig and all your mates managed?

If that's the level you think they should aspire too then I would suggest they would be setting their sights pretty low -- Ed