It is ludicrous of R Bettsom (Letters, September 11) to suggest the Conservatives have not won the confidence of local people in terms of running the council when we won, for the first time in ten years, more votes than any other party across the city in the May elections.

If there are so many disillusioned Conservative voters, why did we improve our relative strength on the council?

-Coun Brian Oxley, leader, Conservative Group, Brighton and Hove Council