COUNCIL leader James Alexander dismisses any form of criticism, be it personal with regard to his vanity project expenses, or as leader threatening to sell off the council’s “family silver” to finance his unidentified “Reinvigorate York” pipe-dream.

Our dear leader blames his budgetary constraints on Conservative cuts. He is wrong. The coalition Government is exercising timely good financial husbandry before the country goes bankrupt. Following 13 years of maladministration, tight control over Exchequer and Treasury policies is crucial.

He is of that same gang of deficit-deniers who never showed remorse, regret, or even responsibility for ruining this nation’s wealth. Do you remember Gordon Brown’s billion-pound raids on our pension funds, once the envy of the world, and his selling off of our gold reserves to buy euros? Watch out York, they are at it again!

No, Coun Alexander should be less impulsive by heeding advice from a wider audience, rather than solely from his inexperienced cabinet. And, perhaps, he should spend less time answering his critics in this organ, and devote more time to the job in hand – York’s future prosperity.

Coun Alexander’s band must consider all political views, and not pursue socialist dogma.

Geoffrey Widdows, East Mount Road, York.