Tory Cassandra

The complaint by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss that rises in taxes will lead to disaster at the polls for her Party, irrespective of the qualities and policies of their Opposition, is likely to be justified.

Have the UK’S governing parties adequately examined ways of reducing safely avoidable expenditures so as to free up tax monies for the most useful and relevant purposes?

I see at least three areas of spending ripe for reduction: our costly, but ineffective, attempts to influence the climate by decarbonising so as to curtail industrial CO2 output, inappropriate though well-meant foreign aid and the huge remits for EU membership. Billions could be saved if only politicians would “bite the bullet” and admit that events had moved on and that these costly, but relatively futile, policies could safely be changed. The first, mere token “Greenery,” is achievable by repeal of the Climate Change Acts (2008, 2009), the second by restricting foreign aid mainly to disaster relief, while Brexit should allow the third.

It is time for those in charge to admit that certain, very costly, policies, must be reviewed to boost support for areas of present underspending such as defence, a reorganised NHS and to lower taxes, so as to stimulate prosperity by reducing the psychologically and economically depressing impact of ever higher taxes.

CHARLES WARDROP Viewlands Road West, Perth