COUNCILLOR Bawden's disingenuous attack on the mayor, councillor Stan Pajak, at Thursday's council meeting was typical of the malice which so disfigures Swindon politics, and is perhaps one of the reasons why so few vote at elections.

It was quite obvious that in deciding to limit the wearing of mayoral robes to ceremonial occasions, Stan Pajak was not intending to show disrespect to the council merely an acknowledgement that 18th century dress is inappropriate to business in the 21st.

If Mike Bawden had said something like 'as a Conservative I am saddened to see one of our cherished traditions discontinued' he would at least have made a point with which you could sympathise, if not agree.

But talking about showing disrespect was not only a nonsense (as anyone who knows Stan, including Mike Bawden, is very well aware) it was also counter-productive as it merely prompted members of the other parties to spring to his defence.

JOHN C NEWMAN

Bath Road

Swindon