Sir - What a refreshing series of articles & letters have been published recently in your newspaper! Refreshing because they give hope that integrity in politics & the democratic system is having to re-surface in the fight against bad decisions being made due to the cuts in spending enforced by the national government. These cuts are effectively emasculating local government to the point where services to the vulnerable, those without a voice, are the ones most affected.

So, well done to Cllr Phil Grove for voting against cuts to the fire service- the local community is grateful to you for your principled stand & courage not to tow the party line. Well done to Cllr Neil Laurenson for voting against the city`s 14/15 budget as the cuts were too severe. He makes the democratic statement that," a referendum(should be proposed) on council tax on the basis that the public should decide". "This could lead to more services being saved." Cllr Matthew Jenkins echoes this point saying that councils need more power over spending & one way of funding the prevention of cuts to services is by the Council`s proposal to the Government calling for a "Robin Hood tax" on the banking sector. Perhaps a sensible way forward would be for all councils up & down the country to make a stand against the austerity measures which are now causing real hardship in a country which is acknowledged by Cameron as being "rich".

Bring back conviction politics!

Geraldine Lowman

Worcester