SIR – I can have some sympathy with those in Bradford and elsewhere who are having benefits cut, but the real blame lies with “New” Labour who encouraged people to abandon personal responsibility and become “clients of the state” in exchange for their votes for 13 years.

Because no system can afford to provide free housing, support unlimited numbers of children whose parents don’t work, and subsidise idleness for very long without running in to financial difficulties as this country did by 2010.

Too easy though for MPs to criticise when they are 100 per cent reliant on taxpayers themselves.

But when the public purse has been opened so wide for so long, without thought to where the money comes from, it is very difficult to close it even partially without causing pain to some.

D S Boyes, Upper Rodley Lane, Leeds