Councillor Brian Oxley (The Argus, October 19) maintains "Local councils' power and influence are being systematically plundered by Labour".

Perhaps he would be reminded of how well the laissez-faire section of the British people copes with the present economic situation if he took the trouble to read "Last flat sold makes it exclusive" on page 13 of the same edition: "The last unsold apartment at the former headquarters of The Argus has been sold for between £250,000 and £365,000... Catherine Grimes, of sole agents Austin Gray, said: 'A lot of people are thinking of reselling because they anticipate the value of their homes has increased now that they have all been sold.'"

This sort of attitude represents irresponsible, unadulterated greed.

Though always practised by the top echelon of society, it has crept down the ladder and is destroying whatever economic progress has been made in recent years.

Witness the doubling of house prices over the past two or three years, which has led to not only low-paid people being denied the prospect of owning their own home but also includes the so-called moderate earners - people on £21,000 a year.

Among these are the fire brigades, nursing staff and many others in the public sector, people without whom our society would rapidly deteriorate.

-D Phillips, Valley Road, Portslade