Sir – We want to make it clear that the Liberal Democrat group on Oxford City Council deplores the calls for Nick Clegg to resign following the disappointing local and European election results.

Going into Government instead of opting out was a brave step and bound to lead to compromise; that is the nature of coalition.

But we have achieved far more of our manifesto than the Conservatives have of theirs.

Despite being a very junior partner we have supported disadvantaged children with the Pupil Premium, raised the tax threshold to lift millions out of tax altogether and created more than 1.6m new apprenticeships, at twice the rate that Labour managed.

We have stopped Tory tax breaks for the very rich, stopped Tory housing benefit cuts for under-25s, stopped Tory plans to allow employers to sack staff at will — all while reducing Labour’s budget deficit. Our party has a proud record to campaign on. Which party leader had the guts to stand up against Farage? Neither Miliband nor Cameron. Did his critics expect Nick to stand up and pretend not to be a pro-European?

Nick has stuck to his guns. That shows courage and integrity. We need to counter UKIP’s dangerous nonsense and get Europe right, not leave it. A leadership election now would be the most damaging move — now that for the first time for decades, genuinely liberal ideas are at the heart of government. We want Nick to lead us into the next election with a proud record of achievement and a manifesto that clearly sets out our differences from the other parties.

Jean Fooks, Leader of the Lib Dem group, Oxford City Council