When county councillor Val Smith asked where I lived, far from trying to change the subject as she accuses me, I replied that I lived in Blackbird Leys - just as Barbara Gatehouse told us she lived in Headington (which is why I referred to her in my original letter, as one of the growing band of "absentee New Labour councillors").

With her latest attack on me (Oxford Mail, February 22), I can only conclude that either Mrs Smith is trying to imply that I'm lying (and she would know I'm not, if she checked the electoral register) or she is trying to divert attention from her somewhat colourful housing situation.

Not content with one large house in Blackbird Leys, it appears she owns a second house in London.

Oxford East constituents are no doubt curious to know if this was bought with taxpayers' money, using the £20,000 a year housing allowance provided to her husband, MP Andrew Smith, as part of his £4,000 a week package of salary and expenses.

Curiously, in Mr Smith's official House of Commons' declaration of interests, he lists under 'properties' - 'none'.

I'm sure the electorate would be interested to know whether Mr Smith has used money claimed from the taxpayer as expenses to fund his property purchases and indeed how many properties the Smiths actually own.

STUART CRAFT (Councillor) Furlong Close Blackbird Leys Oxford