EDITOR The mini-budget marks a refreshing return to core Conservative principles

SIR – I was most encouraged that the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has implemented tax cuts and a other initiatives to kick-start our economy. Liz Truss has the makings of being the first proper Tory PM since Margaret Thatcher. How utterly refreshing.

Dr Alistair A Donald

Watlington, Oxfordshire

SIR – I am delighted by the cuts to taxation rates and other exciting measures taken by this properly Conservative Government yesterday.

As a small business owner running an antique shop and restoration business – cruelly but correctly labelled as non-essential during the Covid pandemic – may I send out a clarion call to all in the upper tax bracket who have just received their own windfall? Spend, spend, spend.

Get out on to our city and town high streets, and into rural farm shops and establishments such as mine. Employ local tradespeople, commission objects from craftsmen and women, eat drink and be merry in our hotels, restaurants, cafes and pubs. Tip generously. Your country needs you. Clarissa Reilly

Pewsey, Wiltshire

SIR – If we’ve just heard a mini-budget, I can’t wait to hear the main one. Nigel Lines

Ferndown, Dorset

SIR – It’s hard to believe what the Government has done. This will fuel resentment among all those struggling to cope with the cost-of-living crisis and be manna from heaven for Sir Keir Starmer and his colleagues.

Richard Marshall

Stoke D’abernon, Surrey

SIR – In recent months, several items on our weekly shopping list have not only increased in price, but also decreased in the quantity contained within the package.

For example, our brand of coffee is in an identical tin, but contains only 90 grams instead of the original 100 grams, a sly way of increasing profit by 10 per cent. Similarly, our tube of toothpaste has been reduced from 100 grams to 75 grams – an increase in our costs of 25 per cent.

These are just two examples, but the same underhand tactics have been used on many of our other weekly purchases. Not only is inflation in double digits, but if these examples of manufacturing profiteering was taken into consideration, I dread to think what the true rise in the cost of living has been.

John Hinchsliff

Longridge, Lancashire