LOCAL politics is a rough game, particularly in York and Coun Galvin's concerns about attacks on his personal integrity reflect this.

However, it is clear that he did not attend any of the later sessions of the Coppergate inquiry.

Rather than concentrating on the evidence before him, Mr Steele, the counsel for the city, presumably acting on instructions from his paymasters, virulently attacked the motivation, credibility and professional impartiality and competence of several of the opposition witnesses in an outrageous manner.

Even those who were not present, and therefore not able to defend themselves, were the subject of his aggressive insinuations which caused consternation and even distress to those on the receiving end. No one can object to rigorous cross-examination on the evidence presented but, by common consent, such personal attacks were totally uncalled for, indicated the total lack of substance in the city's case and called into question the council's tactics when it sought to combat legitimate opposition.

But then that's local politics for you!

Philip Crowe,

Chair York Tomorrow,

Stonegate,

York.

Updated: 10:19 Monday, September 16, 2002