SIR – Full marks to county councillor John Buckley for highlighting the closed shop arrangements at county councils throughout England (November 21).

If the views of local councillors are to be ignored obviously local knowledge will count for nothing. The set-up is reminiscent of the politburo of the Soviets in the 1920s.

This should be a wake up call to the electorate before democracy is eroded.

John Buckley should be charged with honesty. A majority guilty verdict awaits.

E W TAYLOR, Redditch.