AS A political neutral, I am dismayed by the poor quality of York’s current discourse.

The newly appointed leader of the council is attacked by opponents who question his “ability to oversee council budgets when he can’t seem to manage his own finances”.

The attack is compounded next day when the opposition accuses the administration of “living beyond their means”.

This seems to me to be a glaring own goal. What planet do opposition members inhabit?

When a new appointee needs a ‘sub’ to tide them over until their first pay-day, this mirrors an almost universal experience for the rest of us mere mortals.

Especially for a fairly recently indebted graduate, at a time of economic stress.

These crude attacks bring no credit to local politics. We welcome a fresh start, which aspires to correct some wrong-headed policy mistakes of recent years.

Roger McMeeking, Heworth Green, York.

• THE series of banana skins York’s new administration has slipped on in recent weeks makes me fear for the future of our city.

Taken individually, Coun Anna Semlyen’s apparently cavalier approach to taxpayer funds and home improvements, Coun Alexander’s bizarre “open book” policy on his personal finances and the, admittedly original, defensive tactic of installing railings in front of the goal on Heworth’s football pitch, may be minor matters.

They have, however, subjected the city to national ridicule.

These are just some of signs of an administration struggling – perhaps through lack of experience. With a giveaway sale price agreed for the Kent Street and Union Terrace coach parks, taxpayers look to be heading for at least a £1.5 million undervaluation at Union Terrace with the authority apparently set to accept £700,000 less than their target valuation for Kent Street.

It’s now becoming clearer why Labour tried so hard to marginalise opposition councillors by preventing them from taking many of the scrutiny committee chairs at the Guildhall.

More than anywhere else in Yorkshire, it seems York’s new leaders need to be kept on their toes through independent appraisal.

Josh Allen, Fairfax House, Heslington Road, York.