Plenty of hard working people still can’t afford to live in UK

WITH reference to David Cameron’s new slogan of the help he will give presumably to the middle income families of the “hard-working” people his party will support on mortgages up to £600,000 (Yorkshire Post, October 3).

He appears to have forgotten that in this mortgage-mad country there are hard-working, people earning £40,000 per year who would be very lucky indeed to be able to afford to buy a £600,000 house, and the national average wage is only £26,000. Plus the masses of families, including couples, on £15,000.

They think they can buy enough votes in 2015 and split our country up into the “haves” and the “have nots”.

This coalition seems to think that everyone has plenty of money to spend.

What we need in this 
country, and urgently, is social housing, rent control, full-time 36-hour week jobs and minimum wages that people can live on without having to try and get benefits.

This way we might just be the democratic country we are gradually losing in this growing world.

Personally I would also like to see more control of the City – especially after the reaction of 
the energy companies to 
Ed Miliband’s proposed price freeze.

Easy money for the rich on the backs of the poor.

Yet we heard that Ed Miliband would control large industries. Who’s kidding who?

From: Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley.

I AM most grateful for the letter from Tom Howley (Yorkshire Post, October2 ), revealing the cessation of the Staywarm Discount Energy scheme for people over 60, and he informs us Ofgem has backed this decision.

I admit to being quite startled on realising I shall (if spared) have to resort to buying energy for my home on the open competitive and expensive market.

I joined Staywarm 11 years ago and benefited from a significant reduction in my joint gas and electricity monthly direct debit.

In 2002, I paid £56 monthly for gas and electricity supplies combined, the Staywarm figure reduced both to only £36 per month. A significant and welcome reduction.

It took about five years of small increases to return to the original monthly sum of £56.

Then Staywarm made way for E-On to take over, prices rose faster and above all attitudes changed as E-On scolded me for using more than my alleged share. Previously Staywarm promoted “use what you need” at a fixed price for 12 months.

In 2012 my direct debit jumped to over £100, and for the first time in my life my energy bill was higher than my rate bill; discounted for single occupancy.

From July this year I pay £130 monthly, so could my energy supply approach £200 per month by next summer?

Ed Miliband’s promise of an energy price freeze takes on a new meaning for millions of abandoned pensioners. Coalition parties beware!

From: Kenneth Atkinson, Gale Lane, Acomb, York.

I COULD not agree more with TW Coxon and JS Richardson (Yorkshire Post, September 25).

When push comes to shove 
to sort out problems in the majority of large institutions, these people are unwilling, unable and incapable.

Their only interest is self-gratification.

They keep telling us that the enormous pay packages awarded is to attract the best. No, just a poor worst. If this is the best, a size 19 up the rear end is required. Boot them out of the door and not a penny more.

There are plenty of people out there who are much better prepared to fill these posts for a fraction of what these clowns are paid.