THE letter from Councillor Redstone was just like his speeches in council - long but empty.

He is like a naughty schoolchild making excuses rather than admit the truth.

So what is the truth? Simply put, the Conservative group has not the intellectual capacity nor financial acumen to put together a sensible and costed budget.

They prefer empty rhetoric and soundbites rather than substance and reality.

And to compound it all, they are too unwilling or too idle to educate themselves on the management of the council, its budget processes and the responsibilities placed upon them.

As Coun Redstone has previously admitted, he doesn't understand local government finance.

So wouldn't he do better to keep quiet until he is able to criticise others from a position of knowledge rather than ignorance?

Your heading to his letter last week was totally misleading: "I could do your job for you but I won't" should have read "I can't do your job because I don't know how to".

COUN JOHN BYRNE