May I thank the eight thousand or more other demonstrators who marched in Liverpool last Sunday against the proposed public sector cutbacks.

Whilst everyone recognises any government would have to take steps to pull in public sector expenditure in the face of the horrendous national debt, we must also recognise that too severe cutbacks implemented in a relatively short period could jeopardise the whole economy.

There is an irony reminding former Liberals of the Keynesian principles of understanding the multiplier effect on the private sector economy of cutting back the public sector during periods of nil or low growth.

Over and above that there is no legitimate mandate for this action as the Tories did not win the election outright.

In the LibDem manifesto there was a clear opposition to excessive cutbacks and LibDem spokespeople argued for ‘a soft landing’.

For them to now vote for the fundamental Tory economic policies they campaigned against calls into question the legitimacy this government.

During the demonstration along the Liverpool waterfront, I spotted a senior LibDem MP in a taxi stuck in the traffic.

I went over to the taxi and invited him to join the demonstration along with me and many other genuine Liberals to oppose the cuts as he did during the election.

Strangely enough, he seemed to freeze like a rabbit in the face of headlights.

Clearly, the so-called ‘listening party’ didn't want to listen to its own election pledges!

Coun Steve Radford, Leader, Liberal Party Group, Liverpool City Council.