The behaviour in the town hall public gallery at the inauguration of the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Hugh Rayner, on June 2 was some of the worst I have heard in my years on the council.

Catcalls, shouts and insults are not politics, although their perpetrators may believe they are.

One can understand the frustration of many Labour supporters that they did not quite manage to ‘capture’ the town hall in the local elections. But, for most of my Labour colleagues, the behaviour of their alleged supporters must have been an embarrassment. I cannot believe that a Tory minority would howl down a Labour or Liberal Democrat mayor in this way.

We have four years ahead of us when the direst economic straits will assail the borough. Within a decade the budget of the London Borough of Barnet will have halved, as HMG strives to squeeze out of the UK economy an accumulation of overspending dating back beyond the present Government and the preceding Labour Administration. It is no use blaming others.

With the return to the the open committees system all elected members will be able to have their say and vote. Perhaps the catcallers will allow intelligent discussion to proceed. If you elect a representative, why shout yourself?

Cllr John Hart

Con/Mill Hill ward, Barnet Borough Council