I have noticed that most of the recent attacks on James Alexander by his opponents have trotted out the line “lack of experience”.

This is a sadly predictable attack given that we are now led by the youngest council leader in England and speaks far more about the values of those using the line than it does about James himself.

Readers of The Press should take note every time this line is used by opposition politicians or their supporters and reflect each time that this is an attempt by them to play the man, not the ball.

It is worth remembering that James leads a team, many of whom have a considerable amount of experience in local government. In addition to our council experience, most of us have jobs in the so called “real world” and plenty of life experience as well.

So perhaps in future we can actually debate the issues, as that is what the council leader and his Labour group colleagues are looking forward to doing.

Coun Dafydd Williams, Labour chief whip, City of York Council.