SIR – I was sad to learn of the death from cancer of Venezuela’s socialist president Hugo Chavez.

Unlike many in the socalled left-of-centre parties in the alleged democracies of the world who call themselves socialist, Chavez acted to liberate the poor, not just talked about it.

His was a revolution approved of by the people of Venezuela in election after election.

It brought dignity, liberty, education, modern homes and jobs to the poor.

The Chavez revolution brought new universities that created the world’s fifth largest student body, a huge asset in building his country’s future.

My mind went back a few days to James Connell’s article ‘Shame of one in three children living in poverty’ (Worcester News, February 21) and the statistic of 34 per cent of children in Warndon who are affected.

I represented parts of Warndon and Tolladine (Holy Trinity Ward) over 30 years ago on the council. There was a lot of child poverty then as there still is today.

Thirteen years of New Labour in the intervening period with a promise to end child poverty by 2020 made no lasting difference.

Most missed out on the New Labour credit binge anyway and are now the target of the new loan shark industry in suits renamed pay-day lenders.

This country’s demonised poor people could certainly use a Hugo Chavez.

PETER NIELSEN

Worcester