What is more I have no sympathy with anyone who has got themselves foolishly into debt.

I well remember who it was who was obsessed with deregulation and privatisation, who removed the restraints on the financial institutions and took the brakes off and let 'the free market' decide, making those who got into debt prisoners of the system.

I well remember that 11 years into the Tory misery years the economy was at rock bottom after two swingeing recessions, the revenue from North Sea oil had been wasted on tax cuts for the rich and the family silver had been sold at a cut price, and we had been involved in a totally avoidable war.

Compare that to the 11-year record of this government (when the Labour-hating sections of the print media have been talking up a recession from day one) and it is like comparing sack cloth and ashes with Saville Row suits, and I know which I would rather wear. The mystery to me, if opinion polls are to be believed, is that people who were adults in the 1980s and early 90s seem to want to return to sack cloth and ashes.

ROY PEARSON, Brignall Garth, Leeds.