AS A council employee in Southampton, I feel that I have been ripped off by the Labour councillors.

For months they were talking to council staff like myself via union reps and encouraging us that we should vote Labour in the elections or we would all be losing our jobs or working on less pay.

On polling day, we were encouraged to go to the polling station and even during times that we were at work on council business. Now I find that my vote for Labour will now see my council tax rise, more councillors taking bigger wages by expanding the council cabinet. I wish I could reverse my vote.

Royston Smith was unpopular among many of us but most of this was stirred up by our union reps which was then portrayed negatively in the media and gave the public a false image of him.

I shall never vote Labour again!

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.