The spendthrift state

SIR – There is much clamour for the Government to spend ever-increasing sums of money on the NHS, adult social care, education and other public services. At the same time there is widespread public antipathy towards tax increases.

This is a recipe for financial disaster. The Government is already deeply in debt. We should not be demanding increased spending unless we are willing to provide the money to support it.

The last financial crisis happened because the government of the day borrowed and spent too much, until its rake’s progress was brought to a halt by the credit crunch. Frank Tomlin Billericay, Essex SIR – I hope Theresa May and Philip Hammond read your excellent leader (April 23).

Politicians should have realised by now that the lower the rates of tax, the higher the revenue. Sam Britton London NW6