Cuts are still
a sore point
after Budget

From: David Collins, Scissett.

ONCE more, I feel that the Budget has missed the point (The Yorkshire Post, March 19). We have had savage cuts to services to such and extent that there is a danger of some sectors actually collapsing as national services to the public. It needed trimming but there is a limit.

The Government books have not balanced, at least since Thatcher days and probably before. The Thatcher solution was to sell the family jewels. When this had finished by the Brown era, we just borrowed. Now it is the chop.

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We have now created many new taxes and increased others to ridiculous limits. Also many stealth taxes exist. For instance the eco tax we all pay on our utility bills. Car park charges at hospitals, airport taxes, etc. Many of these charges do not show in the general taxation statistics, thereby disguising the actual amount of tax we pay.

We are now left with the sacred cows of income tax and national insurance. Apparently all politicians are frightened to death to touch this issue. I don’t know why, all the nonsense about businesses moving overseas because of income tax is just that – nonsense.

The big movers and shakers don’t pay income tax in the UK, income is largely offshore and they care little about their ordinary staff.

As far as I am concerned, we should further increase personal allowance maybe to £11,000 and then increase income tax by one penny in the £1. Also increase employees’ national insurance by one per cent.

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This may not be enough but at least the sacred cow would be shown for what it is. Then we could get rid of all these stealth taxes that everyone, whatever there circumstances, pays.

Blame Europe
and not Putin

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield, East Yorkshire.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind says that Vladimir Putin must feel pain over his annexation of the Crimea (The Yorkshire Post, March 20).

I wonder what possible pain anyone in Europe can make him feel? He has assessed Europe as being unable to do a single thing that would make him change his actions.

He knows that we British have had enough of war in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc and in any case, since we no longer have an effective military, we are not in a position to take military action.

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If only we had the kind of leader who is strong enough to ignore the wishes of the rest of Europe.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

I REALLY think the western powers were far too ready to express their support for the revolutionaries who threw out the elected president of the Ukraine.

It is not at all difficult to see things from the Russian point 
of view, yet western politicians with their instructions and threats, seem happy to bring about a return to the Cold War 
in an even more dangerous form, with the Chinese backing the Russians.

William Hague should stay at home, and keep quiet (what a disappointment that man has turned out to be).

Making cycle 
lanes clearer

From: JA Harrison, Parkland Drive, Leeds.

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THE recent letters of advice and protest regarding irresponsible cyclists on road, pavements 
or footpaths were very 
welcome, although of course 
it is important not to tar all 
with the same brush.

I would add a word of advice 
to the council authorities.

When cyclists and pedestrians have been given shared 
use of pavement or footpath, 
and I would rather it was 
avoided, particularly on the 
canal towpath, it is vital that separate lanes be painted in.

This has been done in the past, but the practice seems to have stopped now, e.g. on the Alwoodley-Leeds cycleway, much of which is on previously established public footpaths.

Indeed, some of the signs 
on this path could give cyclists the false impression that 
they are the sole legitimate 
users.

Cold comfort
from housing

From: Alec Denton, Guiseley.

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I AM sure you are familiar with the problems on the roads and schools etc. in the Guiseley area caused by recent over-development of commuter housing estates at the expense of employment, but the damage to our infrastructure has now become personal.

Thanks to modern technology I like to enjoy a shower every morning, but since the near completion of 97 homes a 100 yards from my house but at a lower elevation, the shower now frequently runs cold when in use due to low pressure.

There is no way at my age that I need a cold shower. If a mere 97 houses have this effect, what is it going to be like when another 2,000 homes are imposed on us in the near future?

Why is it that the people who have the power to do something about the situation studiously ignore the destruction of what was once a desirable area in which to live?

Cross words

From: John Rookes, Bramley, Rotherham

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IF, as some have predicted, Scotland votes for independence in the forthcoming referendum, will the Union Flag have to be re-designed to exclude the St Andrew saltire?

Wrong sale

From: Bett French, Old Haxey Road, Misterton, Doncaster.

REGARDING Morrisons, every supermarket is only as good as its general manager.