Jeremy Hunt may be accurately reflecting the position of some of his constituents in South West Surrey when he says that an income of £100,000 per year “doesn’t go as far as you might think” (Jeremy Hunt doubles down on ‘£100k a year doesn’t go far’ claim, 24 March). But as chancellor, he needs to have something to say about the situation facing families throughout the country, including some of his own constituents, as a result of the dramatic growth in the number of people in absolute poverty (300,000 more UK children fell into absolute poverty at height of cost of living crisis, 21 March).
Crowing about the fall in the rate of inflation will not make essential items more affordable. Laudable though it may be to reassure elderly people that pensions will continue to be protected by the triple lock, this should not be paid for by further impoverishing the poorest by pursuing divisive income support policies that leave one fifth of the population in poverty.
Les Bright
Exeter
• Jeremy Hunt has no business being chancellor if he hasn’t understood that house prices in Surrey are driven by the incomes of its denizens.
Pete Stockwell
London
• Jeremy Hunt announced that the triple lock for pensioners will remain in the Tory manifesto, despite an £11bn increase in 13 years in spending on a measure that should only benefit needy pensioners at this time of acute financial stringency.
To that end and to help increase spending demands on defence, NHS, social care, levelling up and infrastructure projects, the government should obtain a list from HMRC of pensioners whose tax thresholds demonstrate they don’t need this costly bonanza or the winter fuel allowance supplement.
Such reforms should command cross-party support as they will boost Treasury coffers and make both measures morally and politically viable.
Trevor Lyttleton
London
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