SIR – The Tories are deliberately distorting the concept of the welfare state by portraying welfare as handouts.

They are pretending that the taxpayer is not the same as a welfare claimant, using language that implies that a population of “hard-working families” (Gordon Brown’s terminology) is subsidising another population of dole scroungers.

During my working life,I have always believed that ifI pay my taxes and national insurance while in work,I will be assisted ifI should become unemployed or ill, and receive a pension when I retire.

That should be part of the calculation in forming fiscal policy.

The size of the welfare budget should be irrelevant by virtue of outgoings being covered by taxation past and present.

I have always accepted that there will be abuse of the system and that all necessary measures to discourage abuse should be taken.

George Osborne’s recent attack on welfare by linking it to the Mick Philpott case is a travesty and was another attempt to discredit the concept of the welfare state on ideological grounds.

The tragic deaths occurred because nothing was done when Philpott was exposed by Ann Widdecombe and Jeremy Kyle.

The Philpotts of this world should be dealt with and their children taken into care if necessary and found decent homes, not used by Tory politicians as fodder for the anti-welfare lobby.

PETER NIELSEN

Worcester