Was Rachel Reeves’s budget really that bad?

‘So far, people in the UK are not doing badly.’ Photograph: Rawf8/Alamy

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