THERE has been a row about Government funding in Southampton for some time.

When Labour was running the city they blamed the Government. When the Liberal Democrats were running the city they blamed the Government. Now the Conservat-ives are blaming the Government. It doesn't take a genius to see a pattern.

If this was a court of law the Government would be waiting for the judge to pass sentence by now. MP John Denham denies this is happening. But he said in his letter to the Daily Echo: "Royston Smith chose to cite Leicester as his example. I doubt that he is seriously suggesting that the overall level of deprivation in Southampton matches that of Leicester. I suspect he only chose Leicester as an example because it received the highest amount per head in England (outside London).'' So Leicester in the north gets considerably more than Southampton. And, most importantly, John Denham admits that. Why then in the next breath does he deny it? It's no wonder no one trusts politicians.

MARGARET HILL, Bitterne, Southampton.