Jane Burnet’s letter (Echo, December 10) proposes more government expenditure, resulting in increased debt that our children and grandchildren will have to pay the interest on in the future. Interestingly Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives who may have to govern after May 2015 don’t accept her arguments. I doubt the Bank of England and the Treasury do either.

History shows us that lower tax rates spur growth and actually increase the tax take.

On the other hand higher tax rates stifle growth and tend to reduce the tax take. As Jane Burnet points out ‘The Green Party is the only party with the courage to argue that raising taxes is necessary’. Not surprising, given that such a policy has been shown not to work and tends to be counterproductive. But then parties not in Government – or likely to be – can afford to use rose-tinted spectacles.

She claims we can tax the banks, but they have been taxed by successive Governments. Does she realise that an investment in four of the top UK banks will provide 0%, 2.7% and 4.8% returns. And who owns bank shares? People’s pension funds. So overtaxing banks won’t do UK Ltd’s prospects much good.

One would have thought that the massive increase in recycling (and the reduction of our landfill tax bill) would have been welcomed by the Greens.

Whichever party, or parties, form the Government next year, one would hope they don’t increase the UK’s debt burden – resulting in more of the tax being used for debt interest payments – but will encourage growth and an increased tax revenue to allow us to reduce our debt burden and to spend on services which, given an ageing population, is essential.

Gerald Northover

Preston