Voters in the Crabbs Cross by-election had the dubious pleasure of reading a last-minute leaflet from the Labour party last Thursday.

It said that a council I led would abolish free bus passes and give people nothing else.

It claimed that in saying I would 'refocus' resources, I also said 'there are no resources'. It asserted that our agenda is a savage round of cuts in services.

This arose from their interpretation of some unfortunate errors in the Redditch Advertiser article on April 2.

Last year, Labour claimed we would sell council houses over the heads of tenants - something which simply can't be done.

They clutch at any straw to discredit us - even when the quotes they use are contradictory and clearly couldn't be what I'd said.

I trust that the 'coup de grace' will come from residents who want to see more tangible benefits from their council tax and financial discipline in spending what we've got before we ask for even more.

Cllr Gavin Smithers

Leader, Conservative Group, Redditch Council