Reading Aditya Chakrabortty’s article (A budget to save Britain’s finances? More like Operation Save Our Skins, 26 November) and then the one by Martin Kettle (Rachel Reeves’s budget has inflamed, not calmed, Britain’s febrile mood, 27 November), which both seem to comprehensively trash Rachel Reeves’s budget, I thought – and not for the first time lately – with friends like these who needs enemies?
You might find that many people out here could see that whoever took over from the Tories’ latest dog’s breakfast of mismanagement and downright sleaze would have a right mess to contend with. I, for one, as someone who is not a habitual Labour voter, welcome some evidence of the desire for more long-term thinking. I wish them success.
Linda Marriott
North Hykeham, Lincolnshire
• No one likes to pay taxes. But we like to have a working NHS, an army, trains running on time, motorways in a good condition, energy and water supply, and so on. All these services cost money. A lot of money. In Europe, the average amount people pay is around 40% of GDP. So the calculated 38% in the recent budget is not out of line. So far, people in the UK are not doing badly. For most people today, this conclusion is hard to take. But the facts are difficult to ignore.
Oane Jansen
Kollumerpomp, Netherlands
• Is this country so full of selfishness that the media headlines are all about “who wins and who loses”? Aren’t we all winners if this government can put more money into improving our crumbling public services for everyone? Especially those pensioners who pay tax but no national insurance contributions, have usually paid off their mortgages and make much greater use of the NHS and travel agents than those on the same income who are working.
John Thorn
Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
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