Dyson on the economy

SIR – Sir James Dyson (“Big government is wrecking the economy”, Comment, January 19) has given our politicians much food for thought. It is people like him – internationally successful entrepreneurs – that the Government needs to both recruit and listen to if we are to maintain our status as one of the top six richest countries in the world.

Standing still, watching other countries being more adventurous in expanding and improving their economies, can result only in Britain becoming poorer and less attractive to investors. We need the biggest and best brains to advise politicians on the way forward.

Paul Caruana

Truro, Cornwall

SIR – My wife and I run a launderette business. We currently trade below the VAT threshold but luckily agreed a low price with our gas supplier before the energy crisis.

The Chancellor’s decision to freeze the VAT threshold until 2026 will force us to register for VAT within the next two years, just as our gas price triples. At this point our business will become unviable and close. Other small, energy-intensive businesses – many in catering – are in the same situation. At present, there are no viable alternatives to gas to fuel our businesses.

Current government policies will see the collapse of the small business sector, the energy extraction sector and ultimately the British economy. Stephen Havill

Torquay, Devon