Once again council leader Kevin Small opens his mouth and talks a load of rubbish.

On a night when only 25 per cent of the voters eligible to vote voted Labour, on a night when the biggest turnouts to vote where in wards where Conservatives recorded gains and overall ended with more than 34 per cent of the eligible vote and on a night where Labour lost senior councillors in Chris Eley, David Cox and Peter Brown he still doesn't get the message.

Councillor Small still talks about being brave enough to put up council tax by 15 per cent (60 per cent in five years Mr Small) and suggests that the Conservatives will now benefit from all of Labour's hard work.

The shambolic way that this town has been run over the last few years under first Sue Bates and now Coun Small is finally being recognised by the voters.

Ex-councillor Peter Mallinson stated before the election in several letters that people should trust their politicians (ref the war in Iraq) and that Swindon people were both apathetic and not over intelligent.

Well, in Covingham and Nythe they turned out in numbers and rejected a Labour candidate who had previously been rejected in Highworth, Toothill and Shaw. Where next for Mr Mallinson?

Let's hope that both Labour and the LibDems recognise that voters in Swindon are asking for a change and allow the Conservatives to work while putting to making up an effective opposition.

Let's hope that the Conservatives can improve services in Swindon now they have the chance.

Finally, let's see some pressure brought to bear on both of the Labour MPs to ensure that Swindon gets its fair share of funds from Central Government and our Council Tax is reduced.

D Smith

Swindon