Shaky economics

sir – The latest financial figures (report, November 26) make for horrific reading.

The truth behind these figures is that the Government, in adopting a blame culture, fails to see that its own poor management has created this crisis. First it let the scientists take the blame for the financial mess, and now it just blames Covid. But it always had better options, which it did not take.

People are sick of this bad decisionmaking, and the knee-jerk reactions to what is often not a deadly virus.

Peter Murray

Nottingham

sir – The Chancellor has signalled the economic pain ahead, but has shown an unwillingness to tackle it head-on.

There are clearly economic winners and losers in this pandemic, the winners being those trading goods online, those given generous emergency PPE contracts, and those in the public sector, who have been largely shielded from job losses. Private-sector workers, especially those in sectors reliant on physical customers, are the main losers.

Livelihoods hang in the balance, and the Prime Minister’s previous reported remarks (“f--- business”) do not convince me that this Government understands the importance of supporting grassroots companies. A 20 per cent sales tax on online deliveries for 2021 would be a good start.

Paul Barrett

Oxford

sir – In the same week that the Chancellor reduces foreign aid and freezes pay for public-sector workers but doesn’t mention any tax increases, National Savings and Investments (a state-owned organisation) slashes its interest rate to 0.01 per cent.

If that isn’t a stealth tax, what is? Andrew J Morrison Bellevigne-en-layon, Maine-et-loire, France

sir – Some years ago, I served in an embassy and watched money being shovelled out of the door because, the reasoning went, if it was not spent we would not get it next year.

One such project was for an orphanage. It had been fully funded and ready to go for a year. The only thing it lacked was orphans. No one challenged the spending.

Last year, the UK spent more than £15 billion in overseas aid. Unbelievably, £71 million went to China. This was money that we had to borrow to spend.

Apparently £5 billion would help to solve Britain’s care problem. Yet our politicians prefer to give the money to other countries. Could those opposed to the aid cut justify their position? Stephen Orwell

York

sir – How dare the Government, in our name, cut the already paltry amount given to ease the burden of the most vulnerable in the world?

Yes, people in this country have suffered from Covid, but nothing like the poorest abroad – people who have never had security of food, accommodation or healthcare. In a time when the whole world is being affected, we shouldn’t cut the amount we give to those who need it most. Hope Price

London N3