I WAS delighted to read the letter (December 27) from Full Council Tax Payer (no doubt a Labour activist/John Denham stooge), because it shows how worried Labour are about the two excellent policies of discounts for special constables and the ten per cent council tax discount for older people.

The letter also made plain how worried John Denham is about the recent appointment of Royston Smith as the Southampton Itchen Conservative Party Parliamentary candidate.

As the letter said, Royston is greatly admired, is an excellent local councillor for Harefield and is someone who will stand up for Southampton.

The letter writer may have been swayed by John Denham's arguments as to why Southampton receives so much less money from central Government than other authorities, but that doesn't help when we need to make £10m savings because of the lack of money.

What Southampton needs is an MP who fights for Southampton's causes, not an MP who just spouts his party's line.

COUNCILLOR PETER BAILLIE, Southampton City Council.