Letters, contributions and comments sent in from Times’ readers this week.

Foundations of cash crisis

Trevor Ellis, Chalk Hill Road, Wembley, writes:

I am convinced that Brent Council is in denial about its current financial situation, and I will explain why.

The reduction in council funding from the government is actually a consequence of a succession of chancellors who mismanaged the economy, and the “reckless spending” of the Labour government certainly made the current squeeze on council funding unavoidable in spite of the “empty promise” of “no return to boom and bust” by the former chancellor Gordon Brown.

For example, consider the speech given by Gordon Brown about “homeowners rightly expecting their investment to be protected by sensible policies”.

If you weigh that against the current shortage of affordable homes in Brent and the sky-high cost of buying a house, it is painfully clear that the speech was empty and would lead to disillusionment and want for Brent residents.

Isn’t it therefore unfair for the Labour council to point the finger of blame at the Tory government for subjecting us to deprivation when Labour effectively laid the foundation for the cuts to council funding?

Please send me used stamps for St Luke’s Hospice

Jon Cope, 11 Cecil Road, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 5QY, writes:

Via your letters’ page, may I remind your readers that I still collect used stamps for St Luke’s Hospice?

Any collected stamps should be sent to me at the above address.Thank you!

• Letters may be edited for space, legal or style reasons