Sir – Keith Mitchell’s attempt to blame Labour for his Tory county council cuts (Report, November 19) is breathtaking. Gordon Brown’s borrowing is the very thing that is steering us safely out of the recession in Oxfordshire. The Tory county council will only have to make savage cuts if the country elects a Conservative government.

Keith Mitchell is taking the knife to his staff and our public services with undisguised relish.

The truth is Mr Mitchell has mishandled the county’s finances. To scrap support for failing schools, reduce youth work, leave potholed roads unrepaired and trash trading standards are disastrous policies. It just shows what we are in for if Mr Cameron ever gets his hands on the levers of power.

John Tanner, Labour city and county councillor, Board member for a cleaner, greener Oxford