SIR - The American people have a deal' with their government: to pay relatively low taxes but receive limited levels of state support and welfare.

In France, a quite different deal' applies: higher personal and businesses taxes are levied, but this is rewarded by enhanced social benefits nationally.

Each of these diverse approaches has its merits and, developed over generations by democratically elected structures; both reflect the wishes of their different peoples.

But in the UK, particularly here in England, our deal' now seems to be defective.

It appears that English taxpayers are contracted to provide ever-increasing resources to the higher-consuming populations of two sub-states, Scotland and Wales, with no clear democratic linkage to their sourcing or allocation.

Talk of an English Parliament' or English-only votes' may sound dramatic but, unless something is done quickly to re-align taxation with both representation and the distribution of benefit, then the original Boston Tea Party' may soon be viewed as a mere parish picnic, when compared to the backlash brewing here.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon