THE people of Middle England who voted to let Blair and his bunch try their hand at running this country must be wondering what has hit them.

Benefits are coming under fire and it looks like those who pay the highest taxes and contribute the most will not be able to claim the benefits to which they have a right and to which they have contributed for fear of a future rainy day.

Pensions could be next in line, with state pensions disappearing, despite the fact the Middle England contributes heavily.

As far as private pensions are concerned, the sinful raid on funds will hit people hard in future, especially as they find out that they will not be getting what they were led to believe would be their final pension - because Gordon Brown needed to prop up his spending plans.

Then there are mortgage rates and interest rates. It was hardly surprising that shops were empty before Christmas - nobody had any cash to spend.

Middle England was warned. But they took no notice and swept Labour into power. Now they are regretting their mistakes.

B GAVIN, Jessel Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn.

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