MADAM - Cllr Marjoram is wrong in all three of his 'Ghandi' stages, I have never ignored him, I do not revile him and I can assure him that I am certainly not going to accept his political views.

John then turns his letter to topics of national politics.

I prefer to address local issues that we can have some influence over.

John is of course a seasoned politician and well practised in avoiding the difficult issues.

The facts are that he along with his Labour led coalition partners all voted themselves an 8.3 percent increase in basic allowance at a time of austerity when most of those who are in work have not been receiving any increases.

Try and justify that John without using the overall reduction in allowances caused by the changes from a cabinet to a committee system.

Paul Carter District Councillor Nailsworth & Horsley (Conservative)