LIB DEM Coun Steve Galloway described me as a champion of York retailers, a title appreciated (The Press, December 10).

However, recent protests against his party in government, coupled with local attacks on him from his colleagues, have confused him (Christian Vassie launches attack on Lib Dem leaders, December 10).

He said I called for the “abolition of two-tier parking charge system, which gives local residents a discount to park in the city centre”. I would like to set the record straight. I have never called for this.

He went on to add Labour had dropped its commitment to introducing a congestion charge. Labour did not propose such a policy. The Press said Labour would be “tough on congestion without a congestion charge” should Labour take control of the council in May (November 5).

Coun Galloway then attacked me for being inconsistent. He would be better talking to Nick Clegg about Lib Dem inconsistency on scrapping tuition fees, not increasing VAT, keeping Royal Mail in public ownership, no new nuclear power stations, increasing police numbers, keeping regional development agencies, reducing rail fares, protecting forests, introducing regional immigration caps and introducing a single transferable voting system.

Coun James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council’s Labour opposition group.