l So Keith Mitchell says the budget is a framework, and all views on how cuts should be implemented would be listened to.

Does he really mean what design would be most effective for the guillotine which will be used for the mass executions of public services?

Given that Mr Mitchell has gleefully insulted and is about to maim most of the population of Oxfordshire, he really does add insult to injury to ask us to take part in some sort of meaningless consultation process.

Bruce Ross-Smith, Bowness Avenue, Headington, Oxford