JOHN Smith has branded the new coalition running Blackburn with Darwen Council a farce and cited a humorous comparison.

In reality, though, this is far from humorous as the unholy alliance has demonstrated a complete lack of principle as they are made up of people, previously diametrically opposed to one another.

Liberal councillors (it's difficult to complete the title as they call themselves differently in various parts of the borough) have aligned themselves with a councillor who has rejected them for a group headed by a former right-wing representative.

Can a leopard really change its spots and operate in a cosy coalition with people of different ethnic origin?

It seems to me that the Tories and Liberals have sacrificed any principles that they may have had for a sniff of power and the losers will most definitely be the community generally.

MICHAEL MADIGAN, Notre Dame Gardens, Blackburn.