Essential capitalism is evasion of state control

sir – Capitalism (Letters, February 5) is an economic system, not a political ideology. It is flexible. The businesses that make it up can be large or small and can be privately owned or quoted on the stock markets. The prerequisite is that they are not owned or run by the state.

Capitalism is not even inherently incompatible with small “s” socialism – the Co-op was founded and run on socialist principles, but it is not owned by the state and it operates in the capitalist marketplace. William Cook

Blandford, Dorset

sir – Allister Heath (Comment, February 6) is right to point out the dangers of the new Left. He is also right in criticising a Government that has done nothing to defend capitalism.

Austerity was meant to have shrunk the state, but the books are still in deficit. Worse, Universal Credit will push families that are just about managing, the self-employed and white van man into the arms of the Corbynites, as they find themselves in financial arrears.

However, there are no policy offerings from defenders of capitalism to counter the easy sloganising of the Left. In the Eighties there were council-house sales and share ownership. But what is on offer now?

Wages stagnate and prospects of home ownership drift further and further away. Until a genuine offer is made to reignite free-market capitalism (and free-market capitalism is seen as defending the corporatist status quo), Mr Corbyn will walk into Downing Street.

Tim Aker MEP (Ukip)

Brussels, Belgium