I thought that Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, couldn’t get any more arrogant than his previous statements have shown him to be.

But his latest remarks about snow clearance (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail) exceed even his usual level of self-centred pomposity.

Not only does he offensively insult the former mayor of Henley by comparing him to a harlot, he dodges the ex-mayor’s complaints about the council’s failure to clear car parks and roads, and pretends that there would be no problem if people cleared the pavements in front of their homes and shops.

Mr Mitchell even suggests that this would show “the British spirit that defeated Hitler”.

I am old enough to remember the Second World War, when most of us had to “do without”.

Perhaps Mr Mitchell could display his bulldog spirit by going without the large expenses he claims while failing to meet the needs and safety of his constituents.

Tony Augarde, Carlton Road, Oxford