Austerity costs

So ACCORDING to Ian Lakin (Letters, 16 February) the threefold increase in the national debt on the UK coalition ­government’s watch, taking it to £1.4 trillion has nothing 
to do with plummeting tax returns and is simply the result of the introduction of quantitative easing.

Mr Lakin also thinks that the UK’s austerity programme has not led to job losses, draconian cuts in public services and severe cuts to wages and pensions.

Well that’s alright then, although there are people out there who might vehemently disagree and all the folk on benefits being hammered by cuts in the welfare budget don’t really merit a mention.

Douglas Turner

Derby Street
Edinburgh