SIR – The cynical way in which the last Government used the welfare system to buy votes was shocking. Every Labour government this country has had left behind it a financial mess. The Blair and Brown era broke all records in this respect and as a consequence everyone is now suffering. Rectifying such negligence is an unpopular activity, so should we expect a Labour win at the next election and a reversal of any progress being made by the Coalition? This merry-go-round leaves ordinary voters feeling impotent and frustrated.

There needs to be some form of retrospective justice to deter the likes of Blair and Brown from acting in this way again. It worked with Fred the Shred – why not with political leaders?

Mick Ferrie

Mawnan Smith, Cornwall

SIR – As a single parent bringing up three sons, I have been very grateful to the tax credit system. It has enabled me to work part-time while still collecting my sons from school, supporting them during exams, and generally being around for them so that I can bring them up.

Two of my sons are now at university and my youngest is now 16 and in the sixthform. I have just started a full-time job, as I have to anticipate the ending of the tax credit when my youngest son leaves school.

I have not had a holiday for 15 years, and still struggle to pay the bills. I don’t know where we would have been without the tax-credit system.

I object to Iain Duncan Smith’s suggestion that tax credits have made people lazy dependants who rely on hand-outs (“We’ve brought back fairness to welfare”, Comment, December 31). I am sure that for a minority this is true, but for the vast majority of people, the tax credit has been a life saver.

G Spree

Amersham, Buckinghamshire

SIR – Details of recipients and payments of social security should be published online, with the possible exception of pensioners.

Colin Laverick

London WC2