Your feature article (M Star April 19) gave tacit support to the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (Tusc) and its standing of candidates in the May 3 London and local government elections.
In Southampton we have in the council leader Royston Smith a representative of the worst example of the modern Conservative Party.
A Tory who has been busy pursuing a two-track strategy of major public-sector cuts, including pay cuts, and attempting to remove the trade unions from having an effective presence in Southampton City Council.
In opposing the cuts and attacks on the unions, we find tha the unions and Southampton Labour Party are effectively as one in opposing Smith and his policies and look forward to the opportunity on May 3 to do him serious damage and give Labour overall control of the council.
As the full-time official representing Southampton council workers who were on strike against Smith and who are now busy campaigning for Labour, I find the Star's uncritical support of Tusc disappointing to say the least.
By standing its own candidates for election in six wards in Southampton, all that Tusc will achieve will be the perpetuation of Smith, cuts and attacks on the unions - the opposite of what Tusc claims to stand for.
Ian Woodland
Unite South East regional official
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