In response to Councillor Theobald's recent points (Opinion, June 22), firstly, Gordon Brown may have inherited a healthy economy on paper but at the expense of a very poor and divided society after 18 years of Tory rule.

Secondly, we have one of the lowest direct taxation rates in Europe.

Thirdly, as for utilities being subsidised by the taxpayer, British Telecom, British Gas and regional electricity boards were net contributors to the treasury.

These companies have shed many staff and society has paid a heavy price in terms of the shortage of hundreds of thousands of secure semi-skilled and skilled occupations generations of school leavers have traditionally gone into.

-Trevor Hopper, Tenantry Labour Party, Brighton