SIR – As a Lib/Dem county councillor I am sorry that Alex Kear has resigned from the party.

However, given the electoral arithmetic I would ask him what options there were.

In fact there were three: a minority Tory administration, an extremely fragile coalition with Labour or a Tory Lib/Dem administration.

The first two would have almost certainly resulted in an election in less than six months or a government that could get on with the huge problems facing this country.

To conclude, the first two options would have almost certainly have meant electoral oblivion for the party if they declined the opportunity to provide the potentially stable administration we now have. It may have enraged the party purists but it was the only show in town.

Clive Smith
County councillor Malvern Link Division