Congratulations to the Times Series for being a voice for local democracy. I refer to the letters of Dr Pandit, Morton Morris, Judith Filkin and Larry Ross in last week’s edition.

Councillor Brian Coleman’s politics may be of the extreme school, and he may inconsistently preach capitalism while being paid by the taxpayer, but he does, in mitigation, share the responsibility for his disproportionate proposals with the rest of his ruling party.

This includes the diabolical “Dick Turpin” proposal to put all road space in certain quiet residential roads and streets into his money- grabbing PCZ parking plan.

Of course we believe the accusation that Brian Coleman sniggered scornfully among his political mates during citizens’ questions, because that is the kind of thing he does.

By neglecting to apologise and rebuke the miscreants, his leader fatally ties herself and her ruling party to the contempt and scorn exhibited towards citizens throughout.

And so do those in her party who recommend that people’s representatives from other parties should only speak at the discretion of their own party’s mayor and, moreover, that the council should cease to scrutinise and comment on the actions of the pretentiously named “cabinet”.

That is not democracy. It is tyranny. No wonder citizens were outraged at the so-called “cabinet” meeting on Valentine’s day. Something stinks in the state of Barnet.

Naturally we all urge and expect elected representatives to disobey such an illegitimate instruction for silence and disengagement from matters concerning the governance of this borough. They must continue to scrutinise and speak out in criticism the actions of this politically self- aggrandizing Barnet “cabinet”, which like tyrants, does not wish to hear questions nor give answers.

As democrats, we should all work to repay the debt now owed to Barnet’s ruling group in a spirit that goes beyond narrow party political affiliations.

We must secure two objectives: first, we should not forget our recent disdain and, second, we should get these individuals out of office next time.

If revenge is a dish best served cold, let us spend the next three years organising for that purpose and make democracy work in Barnet. We must not let the moment pass — as this council obviously hopes and expects. Robert Sutherland Smith
Widecombe Way, East Finchley