By neglecting pensioners, the Budget has alienated yet more of the Tories’ natural supporters

SIR – As a pensioner, I would like to thank the Chancellor for finally making up my mind about who to vote for at the next election.

There was nothing in Jeremy Hunt’s Budget (Letters, March 7) to help pensioners, who – as a result of fiscal drag – are paying more in tax with every year that passes.

Mr Hunt has forgotten where his core voters lie, and this Government has gone against traditional Conservative values, presiding over the highest tax burden in decades.

Stan Kirby

East Malling, Kent

SIR – Prior to Mr Hunt’s Budget, I – as a pensioner and lifelong Conservative voter – was preparing to be underwhelmed. I was not disappointed.

John Marsh

Sheringham, Norfolk SIR – I don’t share other pensioners’ dissatisfaction with the Budget. We have profited from the generosity of the triple lock: a rise of almost 20 per cent over two years is superior to what most working people would ever expect.

Robin Nonhebel

Swanage, Dorset

SIR – Well done to Jeremy Hunt for finally making decisions in favour of the young. We older people are getting fed up with watching our children and grandchildren being taken to the cleaners.

Julia Sharpe

Salisbury, Wiltshire

SIR – Instead of delaying matters, Rishi Sunak should call a May or June election, put his cards on the table and set out a clear agenda. He could still pull off a surprise victory, as John Major did in 1992. Let the people decide on the merits of the Budget. All is not lost.

Dominic Shelmerdine

London SW3

SIR – When Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, is asked for her plans, I find her responses evasive.

By contrast, as Lord Lamont writes (Comment, March 7), while the Chancellor is not a magician, he does have a long-term strategy for economic recovery against a backdrop of great international uncertainty.

The choice before voters at the election would appear to be: the Conservatives, who have a credible plan, or Labour, a party with a disastrous economic record, offering little more than a promise to reveal all after winning power.

John Barker

Prestbury, Cheshire

SIR – Jeremy Hunt’s pathetic Budget will have done nothing to attract even die-hard Tories back to the fold.

We live in the most dangerous period in Europe since the Second World War, yet he has failed to ramp up defence spending. Had he done this, I would certainly have considered voting Conservative at the next election. Now, however, Reform will get my support instead.

Jo Bird

Slapton, Devon

SIR – A central duty of government is the defence of the nation. To forget this is to put our safety and prosperity in danger. We are already dropping down the ranking of defence capability within Nato.

The only defence I see in the politics of this country is our political parties attempting to defend themselves. This is unforgivable. The national interest must come first.

Major General John Stokoe

Sherborne, Dorset

SIR – I too felt that the behaviour of MPS during the Budget cast Parliament in a poor light (Letters, March 7).

It is a pantomime and needs to be sorted out.

Malcolm Allen

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire