Magician Brown

When it comes to making money disappear, Gordon Brown is an economic magician without equal, but his attempted illusion over the Conservatives' National Insurance plans will not hoodwink voters.

The 6 billion he alleges will disappear from the economy will, of course, be available to be spent or invested by employers and their workers, no doubt to better effect than if it ended up in state coffers. As for promises on income tax, we should not forget that, as chancellor, he waved his magic wand at the 10p rate and it vanished completely.

ANDREW KEMP

Mossbank

Rosyth, Fife