SIR – The leader of the Labour opposition Ed Miliband, the public sector trade unions puppet, made an infamous misguided speech to the TUC protesters in Hyde Park (T&A, March 28), and among numerous blunders states frontline services in local government, particularly libraries, should not be cut.

This is correct – instead reductions in the number of wasteful bureaucrats should be implemented. However, throughout the UK, Labour run councils are retaining backroom staff because these better-paid jobs are held by left-wing academics, who have usually arrived direct from full-time education, bereft of any real outside world experience.

They are protecting their own supporters at the expense and inconvenience of the public, who pay the rate and tax bills.

A clear example would be the Bradford Council, where Labour leader Coun Ian Greenwood is closing libraries, particularly in non-Labour wards. Why is he not taking the advice of the Labour party leader at Westminster?

The only way to stop these extravagances will be to rid City Hall of Labour councillors, thus installing sensible representatives who will provide better value for money to the public, within the limited budgets.

Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley