Last Thursday's Echo article on the council row about allowances shows the council turning into a panto just in time for Christmas.

Also when the new leader was so convinced that he could run the BCP council better that the Unity Alliance.

In the meeting the new deputy leader said they should be very honest.

But the new council leader seemed unable to admit he had broken the promise he made when he stood for election to council leader.

He said back then he would finance these new cabinet assistants fully by reducing existing cabinet allowances.

Now we see the new cabinet assistants will add almost £32,000 to the cost of running the cabinet.

Cabinet allowances have been reduced but not by the full £62,000 required.

The council leader himself says the loss of £12,000 in his own allowances shows he has integrity but it seems to me it shows weakness, a lack of leadership and, of course, trust.

Is this really the right time to pay out more money in allowances when public sector workers will not receive pay increases and BCP, the country and the world are in crisis?

Not a good start.

L A Crouch

Southbourne