SIR – I hold no brief for bankers etc but maybe David Barlow needs to understand that there are very clear facts of the excessive spend under Labour.

Using public treasury data in billions : 2001/02 – deficit: 0; 2002/03 – deficit: £35billion; 2003/04 – deficit: £35bn; 2004/05 – deficit: £40bn; 2005/06 – deficit: £30bn; 2006/07 – deficit: £35bn; 2007/08 – deficit: £30bn; 2008/09 – deficit: £95bn; 2009/2010 – deficit: £175bn.

Total overspend over nine years: £475bn – equivalent to more than £700 per person None of us as individuals would be allowed to spend some 10 per cent more than our income every year.

Yes the banks have been a major financial issue but this country’s problems are worse than others due to the consistent overspending every year by Labour for nine years.

BRYAN MCGINITY
Bishampton