Councillor Lynda Hyde only tells half the story regarding basic allowances Brighton and Hove councillors are able to claim (Opinion, July 13).

Councillors do not have to claim the full allowance, they can claim as much as they wish up to a maximum agreed by the local authority.

It is true Conservative councillors, supported by the Liberal Democrats, voted against the increase in allowances earlier this year.

However this has not prevented them all from accepting the full increase, rather than - as their votes would indicate - sticking with the lower allowance.

Clearly their opposition to the increased allowance was based on political expediency rather than principle.

-Councillor Les Hamilton, Nursery Close, Portslade