I write to complain about Keith Mitchell’s crude and insulting remarks about the young people taking part in the demonstration in Oxford.

I would like him to apologise for his remarks to the many young people from local schools who were demonstrating peacefully about the rise in university fees and the axeing of the Education Maintenance Allowance.

His remarks are ill advised and inflammatory.

Councillor Mitchell is not some Lord of his Manor, but an elected public official. The council offices are not some private domain. These are public offices and are open to the public.

Even a large group of the public have the right to access them. The information I have is that, far from being a rampaging mob, the young people who entered the offices as part of their protest were courteous to the staff working there.

Perhaps Cllr Mitchell is upset that the young people were getting applause and support from many of the council workers inside the building.

His clear lack of understanding of young people and the issues facing them explains the ease with which his council has also cut the provision of youth services and clubs throughout the county. Instead of supporting the untrue claims of the Government that there is no alternative to cuts on this level, he himself should be protesting to the leaders of his own party that the young people, and their futures, are so important to our society that everything should be done to protect them.

I expect more diplomacy and understanding from the chair of a county council – if Mr Mitchell can only express himself in a manner suited to the gutter press than I call on him to resign from his position of authority. We in Oxfordshire deserve better from our elected politicians.

Mick O’Neill, Hurst Street, Oxford