Are sad Tories now the fourth party in Camden?

Jonny Bucknell ( Lib Dems missed vital discussions, H&H letters March 13) will have a chance to test his electoral popularity in 2010. But the omens don t look good. In the three Camden by-elections since May 2006, when Mr Bucknell was turfed out by the B

Jonny Bucknell ( Lib Dems missed vital discussions, H&H letters March 13) will have a chance to test his electoral popularity in 2010. But the omens don't look good. In the three Camden by-elections since May 2006, when Mr Bucknell was turfed out by the Belsize electorate, the Tories have managed just 12 per cent of the popular vote.

Arguably they are now the fourth party in Camden after the Lib Dems (46 per cent), Labour (28 per cent) and the Greens (16 per cent).

As for the budget-setting council meeting to which Mr Bucknell refers, one of the Belsize Lib Dem councillors was on holiday in Australia showing off his beautiful new baby to his in-laws.

The second was sadly unwell and unable to attend. The third - me - played a full part in the proceedings as the webcast will show, and I voted in favour of the excellent budget, which even Labour said was 'pretty good'.

On the specific point of the Green Party amendment to the budget, as Camden Eco Champion I agreed wholeheartedly with the content - more cycling infrastructure, enhancement of biodiversity, more money for sustainability - and so I and Cllr Paul Braithwaite, the council's Cycling Champion, abstained rather than vote against.

I'm perfectly happy with my decision and I think my electorate would expect no less from me. I am fighting for a greener, lower carbon, more sustainable world.

I'm told Mr Bucknell, unlike the world's climate change scientists, does not believe in global warming.

We will have to wait to see if the Belsize electorate agrees with him.

Cllr Alexis Rowell

Belsize Ward, Camden Council