Dear Editor, I don’t know how you got Len Clarke to pose with a cigar in his mouth, in That Hat, (Post, May 27) or where he got the machine gun, because I’m fairly sure that he doesn’t have much call for the latter in his role in Children’s Services.

It’s true that he may have made many enemies by changing from one ideology to another, as did Churchill (twice).

As for filling a room with his oratory, I have obviously missed seeing him in action in the council chamber, because in local terms he aims to stifle debate.

From rolling over people with interminable advice to “wait and see” and “the decision has not yet been made”, shall we now see him blown off course by Macmillan’s “events dear boy, events?”

Far from not suffering fools gladly, he doesn’t suffer anyone who disagrees with him.

In a recent Thought for the Day the speaker explained how Churchill inspired people to be courageous and take action in the speech offering “blood, toil, tears and sweat” and promising to “fight them on the beaches”.

I haven’t seen any sign of it from Len Clark, but it could be a turning point for him as well as everyone else.

As they say, “The times produce the man” ... I just hope it’s him, because we’re stuck with him.

As for Mike Whitby having to make bargains to run the city efficiently, it’s all the stuff of today’s politics. It’s bound to lead to some changes in the high-handed way he has done things.

We voted for change and let’s just hope the city is not run in a totally centre focused way. It’s time the little bits of maintenance got done, and that they stopped replacing good stuff with the bling that passes for modern architecture. We need better infrastructure, not the civic equivalent of jewellery.

Rwth Hunt

Harborne