THIS government is beyond a joke. It aims to offer more cash to asylum seekers. If you are a refugee, or an asylum seeker, this is the place for you.

But if you are an English born-and-bred old age pensioner and have swelled the coffers of this country all your working life, then sorry, you can only have the crumbs from the table.

I would say about 95 per cent of asylum seekers are not being persecuted in their own country, they know Britain is a soft touch and they are out for a free ride.

Refugees need our help, but it must only be temporary.

Perhaps pensioners should also apply for political asylum.

The basic state pension should be £95 per week. The average weekly wage today in Britain is between £350-£450. It makes the old age pension look a bit sick doesn't it?

H HAMER (Mrs) Lowther Place, Little Harwood, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.