Thursday's Letters: Vital that the great Labour economic myth is exposed

Space in your letter column will only allow me to point out four

material mistakes in Dr MacShane's thesis, but their cumulative effect should reinforce a reasonable man's view that this government's chances of re-election depend on a gullible public believing the myth.

1. We are told that Gordon Brown's chancellorship delivered a

Panglossian economy. Is this the same chancellorship which claimed an end to boom and bust; established the useless FSA banking regulatory system that allowed the banking crisis to begin; caused record youth unemployment: a historically-wide gap between rich and poor; poured money into public sector projects to scant front-line benefit; and turned the healthy economy of 1997 to the lopsided borrowing basket-case that it is today?

2. It is idle to compare the borrowing requirements of the UK and the US.The dollar is the world's reserve currency, so the US is unlikely to lose its AAA borrowing status as we are.

3. It is not the "bonus boys" in the City (a convenient side-show) who demand deficit reduction. It is the international capital markets who are temporarily busy with problems in southern Europe, but who will return to look at the UK with a vengeance if the post-election UK government is still playing ostrich about our borrowing. Meanwhile, insurance of Greek debt costs some four per cent more than that of German debt. We must be aware that we are the next potential fall-guy.

4. Brown was Britain's best post-war CFO (Chancellor). Denis MacShane, you get marks for loyalty, none for accuracy. I was at a meeting of financial practitioners recently which set itself the task of trying to identify a single Brown macro-economic policy which was successful.

We failed to find one (save our non-entry into the euro). The

considered view was that history would mark Gordon Brown's

chancellorship as the most calamitous since that of Hugh Dalton (Labour).

It is vital that this government's woeful economic performance is remembered by the electorate on, say, May 6. It is vital that Labour are allowed to wreak no more havoc. It is vital that the great myth is exposed.

From: Simon Wood, Brockfield Hall, York.

From: Geoff Sweeting, Station Road, Wressle, Selby.

I READ Denis MacShane's article with a mixture of emotions – surprise, even astonishment being the most common. His introduction started well, but unfortunately he stated that this was not Britain in 2010. Well it is – the nation is fed up with its leader and we do want change.

Dr MacShane then states that David Cameron is English, as if it's a crime for us to want an Englishman governing England (as all other countries in the UK except England have their own Parliament or Assembly). He then has to delve into the usual Labour class war, by stating that Cameron "has had all of life's glittering prizes offered to him without much effort". That is hardly David Cameron's fault and makes him just as suitable to run the country as any "son of the manse".

I was staggered to read that Dr MacShane considers Gordon Brown to be the best CFO since the war. This is the guy who spent other people's money like water, borrowed more and more when the economy was booming and he could have paid some of our debts off, sold half our gold reserves off at the bottom of the market, ruined the one of the best pension schemes in the Western world and continues to borrow, borrow, borrow.

This is also the guy who claimed all the credit when the world economy was booming and claimed that all our problems were caused by the global recession when things went pear-shaped. What a leader!

The best CFO since the war – you're having a laugh Dr MacShane. At least you admit that the economy was in a parlous state at the end of the last Labour Government – well your lot have done it again.

What a cheap jibe at John Terry and David Cameron's idea for giving married couples some tax relief. A tax bonus on infidelity it is not, that's gutter politics Mr MacShane. I suppose you prefer the fact that Labour has presided over the biggest ever rise in single parents, thanks to your tax policies.

I really hope that Labour gets trounced at the next election as you've proved conclusively that you are not fit to run the economy. If you get in again, there'll be more and more borrowing until our creditors

finally pull the plug and the country becomes bankrupt.

Call for real reform of voting system

From: Gerald Jarratt, Baghill Road, Tingley, Near Wakefield.

"WE Tories have nothing to fear from electoral reform" and "let us have a proper debate on the different systems", writes Janice Small,

director of Conservative Action for Electoral Reform (Yorkshire Post, February 8).

Brave words, but they mask the fact that their proposals for electoral reform are merely a tidying up exercise to prop up our present

fraudulent system, in effect to continue the status quo.

Equally, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promises "to end discredited old politics" but his proposals merely fiddle the figures in a blatant attempt to ensure that his party retains the power to rule and promote their particular ideology. Politicians today do not represent us the people they rule, and this is facilitated by an electoral and voting system which is totally unacceptable.

Tony Blair won the 2005 election with only 35 per cent of the vote

which gave him a huge majority and enabled him to force his ideology on the 65 per cent who did not share his views.

This discredited first past the post system needs major surgery. A

radical departure from the present system is needed if "government of the people by the people for the people" is to be enacted.

Power must be devolved to the people, with an English Constitution based on referenda as practised by the Swiss (since 1858) who are the only people in the world to enjoy true democracy. If they are concerned about a particular matter (minarets, say), a given number of signatures to a petition triggers a referendum, the result of which is binding on the Government. All constitutional change is automatically referred to referendum.

This "people power" has enabled the Swiss to become one of the richest nations in the world, and, more importantly, to avoid foreign

entanglements and two World Wars.

Just occasionally, a politician speaks sense – Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative Party culture spokesman is on record as saying: "The collective wisdom of the British people is much greater than that of politicians or so-called experts." Does Janice Small agree?

Apprentices? We have loads

From: Ian Smith, Colston Close, Bradford.

WHAT'S all this talk (Yorkshire Post, February 8) of a return to apprenticeships?

I retired three years ago from City Training Services, Bradford – a company set up by the Chamber of Commerce in 1983. At the point of my leaving, we were supporting about 500 modern apprentices; indeed, for many years up to then, we continually registered hundreds of school leavers on apprenticeship programmes across most skill areas and, very importantly, as employees with companies throughout Bradford's districts.

There's nothing new – it's been happening for many years. Yet the Government every year, if not more frequently, informs us of a new initiative to ensure unemployed young people may receive training, leading to employment through apprenticeships – how dare they!

Furthermore, training and apprenticeship opportunities always were more relevant than university or college to those thousands of unacademic young people for whom the latter are anathema.

Give 'em the memories, Wilf

From: David Gillion, Dronfield, Derbyshire.

YOUR reference to Wilfred Pickles in "From the Archive" (Yorkshire Post, February 9) brought back memories of what he was probably most famous for, namely the radio programme Have a Go, a light-hearted

mixture of quiz, interview and song.

It was essential listening in many homes. His questions always included "Have you got a girl/boy friend?" and at the end of the quiz "Give 'em the money, Mabel". The pianist was Violet Carson, long before she became famous elsewhere. Happy days!

From: John Proctor, Kearby.

THE late Wilfred Pickles was said to be careful with money. His cousin recounted a story where Wilfred and he were in a group enjoying a drink and it became Wilfred's turn to pay.

He said: "Barman, I am without cash, would you cash a cheque"?

"Certainly, sir," was the answer and upon seeing the signature, the barman said: "Oh, you are the real Wilfred Pickles, I will frame the cheque so have this round on me."

Mood of the country misjudged by the politicians

From: JW Hemingway, Liversedge.

THE politicians have misjudged the mood of the country again. With all their foolish talk of "drawing a line" under their expenses scandal, they simply inflame the matter further. Apparently, they still do not understand that we are very, very angry indeed.

Perhaps successful prosecutions of some of them will concentrate all their minds, but they would do well to think carefully now.

It is perfectly plain to all of us in the electorate that more than

half of them have demonstrated without any doubt that they are dishonourable and self-interested, preferring to believe they are above the law and free to steal from the Exchequer without proper accountability (Yorkshire Post, February 6). Only a General Election will allow us to remove the MPs who have let us down so very badly, and the sooner we have that opportunity the better it will be for the country and the sullied reputation of democracy.

We need a powerful means of enforcing proper discipline among Parliamentarians. I believe we must introduce urgently a formal

declaration and undertaking to be signed by all Parliamentary candidates and new appointees to the House of Lords, without which they would not be permitted to stand for election or to accept any titled appointment.

If that needs legislation, it should be done immediately, taking

priority over any other business.

Existing Parliamentarians should also be invited to sign.

Lack of places wastes talent

From: Laura Horgan, Leeds Met student, Leeds.

I FIND the lack of places in universities appalling. It's sad to know so much potential talent that could in future boost the British

economy, go to such a pitiful waste.

If only the Government could see sense. These suffering potential new students are the future of this country and possibly the ones to get Britain out of its debt-filled hole.

So, instead of depriving them of a successful future, the Government needs to sit down and do something about it.

Insult of 2.40

From: Ian R Bloomer, Darrington Road, East Hardwick, Pontefract.

I WOULD like to thank the Government for the increase in my pension of 2.40 per week. I assume it is the same for every pensioner – not even a couple of loaves of bread, a pint of beer or a glass of wine. Thanks.

I understand we are living through economically different times but why insult pensioners?

MP's mistake

From: AB Collier, Gordon Road, Bridlington.

SO Austin Mitchell says he made a mistake (Yorkshire Post, January 27) when it was exposed that he had claimed 10,627.

Along with the rest of false claims by other MPs, would he have paid back the 10,627 if he had realised his "careless" mistake? They all must think that us Joe Public are stupid and accept their excuses. I, for one, don't.