Saturday's Letters: Economic battleground clearly set out for election campaign

If you cut public expenditure by 6bn and restore that money to the private sector, it has simply been switched between the two and borrowing is unaffected. Contrary to Gordon Brown's claim, nothing has been taken out of the economy in total, as national income and expenditure are unchanged.

By not charging extra National Insurance, the leaders of industry claim that jobs in the private sector would be saved. This would be achieved at the expense of losing some jobs in the public sector on failed IT projects and other independently identified waste.

Can anyone doubt that such wastage exists?

In the context of a public sector deficit of some 167bn, it is tempting to think of the argument over 6bn as being almost irrelevant as it is little more that a rounding error. But it is the equivalent of 2p on the basic rate of tax, which throws into sharp relief the sheer enormity of our deficit, one half of which is structural and has therefore been caused by the misguided policies of Gordon Brown.

This issue should be the defining moment of this election campaign when people realise that Labour's incompetence has, in large measure, contributed to the appalling state of our public finances.

From: Thomas W Jefferson, Hensall, Goole.

From: Charlie Lawson, Halifax Road, Brighouse.

IN the mid-1970s, the Conservatives and business leaders warned us that the Equal Pay Act would cost women their jobs. They were wrong, there are more women in work now than men.

In 1997, they warned that a minimum wage would cost two million jobs, they were wrong. They argue that a 4m bonus to a chief executive creates jobs but a 20 pence-an-hour pay rise is a cost that destroys jobs.

They are now telling us that the National Insurance increase will harm the recovery but history suggests otherwise.

In the early 1980s, the Conservatives abolished the 3.25 per cent Employers' NI Surcharge. They financed this business tax cut by increasing Employees' NI from 6.5 per cent to 9 per cent – a 38.4 per cent tax increase for working people.

This generous tax cut for business did not result in new jobs – unemployment rose to 3.2 million, even if we ignore the 28 statistical fiddles the Conservatives came up with.

I notice that none of the politicians is proposing MPs' pay goes up by the same percentage as the minimum wage.

From: Alan Carcas, Cornmill Lane, Liversedge, West Yorkshire.

GORDON Brown was in charge of our national purse-strings for 11 years; at the centre of every policy decision made by his Government for 13 years; the architect of our regulatory system, which failed to stop our banks lending to people who wouldn't be able to pay the money back; yet he still pretends that the problems of our debt crisis, both personal and national, are nothing to do with him.

He has been at every international financial summit, G7, G8, G20, IMF, for 13 years, and again at the centre of every international policy decision for that time, and again, he pretends that the recession had nothing to do with him.

He has said he "takes full responsibility" but that is only a form of words because he clearly believes that he is not really at fault. Who is deceiving who? Gordon Brown has stalked the corridors of power for 13 years, like a latter-day Thomas Cromwell. Time for him to go.

We can't behead him, as Thomas Cromwell was, but we can do the next best thing. Vote him out humiliatingly on May 6.

From: Bob Wild, Main Street, Linton, Wetherby.

HOW very sad but yet entirely to be expected – the Government attacks David Cameron for having been educated at Eton. Is this really the level to which political debate has been debased?

Most parents aspire to see their children leave school articulate, literate and numerate, and in a touch of irony, the Prime Minister recently spoke of his party as being one of aspiration.

Tony Blair is one of the finest living examples of aspiration, and following his own private education at the exclusive Fettes, has betrayed his Socialist principles and become one of the highest earners in the United Kingdom.

Gordon Brown craved the highest office and seized it unelected,

allegedly following a grubby deal with Tony Blair.

He has proceeded to live a life of pretence.

From: Robert Cartlidge, Wales, Sheffield.

THE election fever isn't about Gordon Brown or David Cameron. It's about what each stands for; Labour with a hint of socialism or Conservative with more than a hint of capitalism.

It's like, of course a, "personality" parade; as the sanguine flair of Tony Blair now enters the fray. Election news becomes big time like no other. It pervades the scene of public life. Cameras whirl to the coming and goings, our lives become enthralled. One likes or hates, one trusts or mistrusts as an ongoing saga.

In the end, one capitulates with a kind of dignity and sadness.

One good turn ends in disaster

From: Mrs June Wolfe, Sutherland Road, Lightcliffe, Halifax.

THE article by Jayne Dowle "All it takes is a smile..."(Yorkshire Post, April 1) reminded me of an incident that happened many years ago.

I had just read that in America they have a day where they do an act of kindness to a complete stranger. On this particular day, I had joined a queue at the cheese stall in Bradford Market, and the little old lady in front of me had asked for two ounces of cheese.

When it was cut, it was just a few crumbs, and so I said "Oh, I think you could eat a bit more than that," at the same time indicating to the assistant to cut a nice big wedge.

The little old lady hesitated and then said: "Well, perhaps I could." Then, when it was wrapped, to my horror she wouldn't let me pay for it. "Oh, you must, you must," I cried, but by this time the queue was getting restless and the assistant fed up, and so, to my shame, I fled – I was quite young at the time.

For the rest of the day I had visions of the little old lady going home and saying: "Some stupid woman's made me buy a load of cheese I didn't want."

So much for America!

Trident cost is madness

From: Coun Jillian Creasy, Sheffield Green Party, Pinstone Street, Sheffield.

THE agreement to cut nuclear warheads between Russian and USA is to be welcomed. It is timed to set an example to other countries ahead of the Nuclear Non Profileration Treaty review conference in May. Some 189 countries are signed up to to move towards disarmament but very little progress has been made since the end of the Cold War.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said the UK is committed to a world without nuclear weapons and "stands ready" to take part in future multilateral disarmament talks. Yet, with the country in financial crisis, the Government remains committed to replacing Trident nuclear submarines.

Greenpeace estimate the cost of replacing Trident as 34bn, with additional running costs of 63bn. Modern warfare has moved and Trident is now massively expensive and irrelevant. Public services face massive cuts in the next five years which will affect us all, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

To throw away 97bn on Trident over the next 25 years would be complete madness – Trident should be scrapped now.

TV noise annoys

From: Austin Holroyd, Dark Lane, Almondbury, Huddersfield.

I'M quite a simple soul, "elderly" as the media kindly put it, and now living on my own, so my television does play an important part in my life. I'm neither highbrow nor lowbrow; I can enjoy the Proms equally as I do Anne Robinson and The Simpsons (I draw the line at chefs), but I peak on a Friday evening and really do base my lonely evening meal round "the box".

You see it's "Corrie" from 7.30 to 8pm, and from 8.30to 9pm, with Mastermind in between; two of my favourite programmes which work very well alongside my steak pie and half a bottle of Merlot.

This sounds ideal, except that I have to flick the zapper for the sub-titles on Corrie, yet with John Humphrys and his candidates I can hear every word without any outside assistance, so it can't be me, can it?

I know this question is asked regularly in your columns, but why oh why are so many of our television programmes ruined by this mania for "background noise", be it tagged on to the regular soaps or nature walks?

Picture of my schooldays brings fond memories

From: Geoffrey Bellamy, The Balk, Batley.

I AM featured in the "From The Archive" photograph (Yorkshire Post, April 6) of Leeds Grammar School prizewinners, taken in October, 1973.

I was a prefect at the time, hence the gown. I look very morose, I must say, not a typical pose, but teenagers are like that when faced with a camera!

I went from LGS to Cambridge, obtained a Masters degree in Music.

From there, I went to Hull University and got a PGCE, enabling me to teach.

Since 1978, I have taught at Batley Grammar School, first Music, later Religious Studies and PSE.

I am Head of Key Stage 3 and, for four years, set up the junior school, Priestley House, as headmaster, before returning to my main love, teaching teenagers, some of whom are even more troubled than I look in that photo!

Leeds Grammar was a great school in those days. I remember some teachers, especially, who taught me and inspired me to want to become a teacher. Principal among them were Mr Jordan, Mr Cooke, Mr Illingworth,

Mr Brownlow, Mr Fairhurst and Mr Grange.

Bob Nowill, also in the photo, was at Cambridge when I was, and a fine lad he was.

I have lost contact with all my ex-LGS friends since I left, but look back with great affection and pride at my time there.

Like many 11-plus boys who went there, it was my passport to higher learning and higher personal standards. What a great shame that children from poorer homes today face only the local comp, be it good

or bad.

Too young to vote at 16

From: Richard Appleyard, Lingfield Close, Saxilby, Near Lincoln.

A THINK tank wants the voting age lowering to 16.

On June 5, 1975, I was ineligible to vote in the referendum on whether Britain should stay in the Common Market or not, because I was 16 and not old enough.

On that date, I would have cast my vote as "yes" and then today wish I voted "no", had I have been able to vote. It was better for me to be ineligible to vote.

If 16 and 17-year-olds were given the right to vote, would they know what they are voting for?

Flying the flag

From: Mrs Lesley Skorupka, Rookery Dale, Boosbeck, Saltburn by the Sea, Teesside.

WELL, the worst kept secret from the last few weeks is out, a General Election to look forward to. Lots of promises that will never materialise and politicians trying to convince us why we should be voting for them.

What else do we have to look forward to? Well, the World Cup is just around the corner and all of our football fans will be flying the flag for England.

Can I suggest that whether it be flying the Union Flag for your chosen political party or our football players out in South Africa, that we all make sure we are not flying it upside down?