Dear Editor,

I am confused. We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world – right? So, why are we £2.7 trillion in long-term debt, with a further £20 billion black hole of more recent debt?

I am no mathematician, but I realise that something does not add up, and our country is regressing backwards. The government needs to take a good look at our country and the poor conditions of people’s lives. We have a crumbling infrastructure, disintegrating health service, no defence, unsafe tower-block housing, people are hungry and cold and many are sleeping on the streets. The list goes on.

Some of us may be happy with how the government is spending our tax contributions. Others would like our money to be spent on improving the health and living conditions for British people, and less on other projects. Those of us who are parents are concerned about debt and long-term financial commitments to other countries that our children will inherit and have to pay in the future.

Many taxpayers are disillusioned with how their contributions are being spent and are leaving the country, whilst more dependent people are arriving. If this trend continues, the country will take another massive financial nosedive. When the Prime Minister announces “What the British taxpayer wants…”, he should make an informed decision.

I suggest that every taxpayer should be invited to take part in a survey or referendum to enlighten the Government on what the British taxpayer actually supports, and how they want their money spent.

Every item of Government expenditure should be listed, and each referendum participant should state exactly what percentage of their tax contributions they would like to allocate to each item. Only then will the Prime Minister be truly able to state what the British taxpayer wants.

Christine Harding, Carisbrooke