I sympathise with City of York Council, and its citizens, over the Government's decision to cap its council tax.

Embarrassingly for Tony Blair, the highest Band D council tax in the country stands at £1,490 in his own constituency of Sedgefield. No mention of capping there, because Labour only penalise Liberal Democrat or Conservative-run councils.

My relatives in York are happy to spend an extra seven pence a week to maintain their services. I pay more than £2,000 a year to a lousy council, which provides abysmal services and wastes monumental amounts of money.

I am green with envy when I see the services the people of York enjoy. Marvellous schools, prompt police actions, and the elderly so well looked after and provided for.

It is also iniquitous that the York Hospital is having to close wards and lose staff due to Government incompetence but, as always, it is not their fault.

Spite and class hatred are the bedrock of New Labour's philosophy.

York has a low level of "diversity". It has a proud independence and core of tradition.

It is a beautiful and historic city - all characteristics which are anathema to this Government.

I predict that this bullying dictate of the capping of the council tax will be just the first step to bring York into line - probably it will eventually be submerged into a vast north eastern region governed by non-elected quangocrats.

York's politically correct MP should be making representations on behalf of his constituents. He won't, of course, because he's still hoping to get his Government job back. He's one of that diminishing band of MP's who when the Prime Minister says, "jump" his response is "how high?".

Carole Tucker,

Hillside Gardens,

Highgate,

London.

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, April 19, 2006