Last updated 11:19, Friday, 09 May 2008

In reply to the OAP’s tax plight as mentioned in The Cumberland News (May 2), I have to keep reminding myself that a Labour Government is in power.

Which other government hammers the less well off with incomes below £18,000 per year, which is most people in this area, despite the fact these are the very people who vote for them?

We do not all qualify for tax credits, Family Income Support, and all the other benefits, which this Government gives to all free-loaders. Paid for, of course, by the taxpayer.

A lot of pensioners are existing on the measly state pension, and have to do part-time work just to live to top up pensions, only to pay Mr Brown’s taxes, rising utility bills, council tax etc etc. The young who work are being penalised with the scrapping of the 10p tax rate.

The younger generation see their families struggling and suffering under this Government to pay more and more tax, so Labour can forget about their vote.

P HODGSON
Address supplied

• I’d like to think it was my letter to MP Eric Martlew that brought a response from the Government about the 10p tax band, because my situation is typical of many people my age, especially in a low-pay economy like Carlisle.

I accepted an early retirement package from my employer which gave me a decent pension. To supplement this I took a part-time job which gives me an annual income of £14,000.

I receive no tax credits or benefits, despite the fact that I have worked all my life from leaving school aged 15.

My children are in their 20s and they too don’t receive any benefits. Typically in Carlisle their income is well below the £18,000 mark.

All of us are now worse off after Brown’s abolition of the 10p tax rate.

My question to Mr Martlew was, what does the Government intend to do about people like us? There are actually people in this country who do not get, or want, benefits. If you want to learn some lessons Mr Brown here is the first; don’t kick the people who voted for your Government, because they won’t make that mistake again.

JOHN IRVING
Etterby Lea Crescent
Carlisle

• In my opinion, removing the 10p tax band is a wrong decision.

It seems to be another of the present Government’s “good ideas” which has not been thought through.

It appears to be yet another covert attempt to take more money from the public and once again the poorer members of society will be penalised.

I feel strongly that the state retirement pension should be exempt from income tax and not counted as earned income.

To offset the cost of this, MPs’ “perks” should be abolished.

I understand they can claim up to £400 food allowance each month among other allowances.

It is time these allowances were made transparent to the electorate, who pay their salaries.

DR SHEILA IRVING
Forest Hill
Harraby
Carlisle