There seems to have been a great deal of anger, bitterness and criticism following the results of the recent local elections.
The Labour party would not have been able to rule on their own and would have had to join with another party to form a coal
ition. This appears to have been unacceptable.
The Lib Dems, Tories and Greens worked together to form the opposition, so there is no reason why their union should not be effective. They have two years to prove themselves. This should produce good, middle-of-the road local government without extremes or expensive pet schemes. Beyond the rainbow could lie the pot of gold; ie good value for the council tax.
MISS P JOHNSON, Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds
• The thought of this so
called "Rainbow Alliance" fills me with horror. This city has been transformed under Labour rule into a vibrant, exciting, welcoming place. Our shops, bars and restaurants offer a diversity that encourages people from all backgrounds and cultures to enjoy and contribute to our economic success, success due to a large extent to the Labour leadership of this great city.
I hope the people of Leeds do not live to regret the election of our "Rainbow Alliance" though I fear that they will. Somewhere over the rainbow was a land called Oz – a place in the nightmare of a small child!
Mary Harland, Hall Park Court, Kippax
• It is worrying that several of your correspondents seem unable to accept the results of the local elections (although some of them appear to have neglected to mention that they are Labour councillors who lost their seats, which may be one explanation).
The first-past-the-post electoral system used for council elections had for years given Labour a dominance over Leeds far above its true support amongst voters. Even now, Labour's share of seats is greater than its share of the vote.
The new administration can rightly claim to be the first council leadership in many years to truly have the support of the people of Leeds. Rather than sniping before a single policy decision has been taken, we should give them the chance to prove that pluralist politics can deliver for the city. The signs so far are positive.
Will Howells, Harold Terrace, Leeds
• I do not accept Coun Andrew Carter's comments that the Labour Party in Leeds are bad losers. Your paper's balanced response by including, on the same page, Coun Wakefield's explanation why the leadership of the council was not handed over went a long way to dispel the myths the new administration is already weaving.
Just as seriously, and for the second time this week, the YEP has published letters from Tory councillors that call into question the integrity and independence of the Boundary Commission. I
Coun Carter then goes on to decry the voting system that he says kept Labour in office for 24 years. I don't remember him or any of his colleagues decry the same system, which kept Mrs Thatcher's Government and her incompetent successor in office for so long.
Coun Carter and his junior partners have so far spent their time writing letters to the papers rubbishing their opponents, the voting system that has put them in office, the people of Leeds for not voting them into power sooner and calling anyone who doesn't agree with them whingers and nit pickers. Bad losers I have heard of – but bad winners!
Bernard Caulfield,
e-mail, Leeds
