Sir - If Andy Gibbons (Oxford Mail, August 17) had taken the time to look at the manifesto of the Independent Working Class Association - accessible at www.iwca.info - he would be aware that the use of the term 'reactionary' to describe our politics is misplaced.

To call the IWCA reactionary is to betray not only a complete lack of knowledge of IWCA politics, but to show utter contempt for the people of Blackbird Leys, Greater leys and the Churchill ward who voted us in as their representatives at the June elections.

I have long tired of the politically irrelevant Mr Gibbons and his ilk.

These people are incapable of acknowledging any responsibility whatsoever for their self-imposed political isolation.

Because of this, they bitterly blame working-class people for not rallying to their tarnished flag, lashing out like spoilt children at those they regard as being socially beneath them.

The recent successes of the IWCA, along with the dismal failure of the far left (the Socialist Alliance polled just 33 votes in Blackbird Leys in 2002), has left Mr Gibbons and Co increasingly resembling the foiled villains in a Scooby Doo cartoon, deluding themselves that "we would have done it too, if it wasn't for that pesky IWCA".

In this context, it was predictable that most of the attacks on our organisation would come from the middle class left, for it was only a matter of time before the penny dropped, leaving the 'comrades' with the stark realisation that success for the democratic IWCA ultimately spells the end of their own lofty ambitions.

The authoritarian left has been dying a lingering death for many years.

The reluctance of its advocates to leave the political stage with any dignity is starting to become embarrassing.

Stuart Craft (Councillor)

Independent Working

Class Association

Oxford City Council