PM's role must not be ignored

LETTER - The media must not let Gordon Brown off the hook of accountability. To ignore his role in our present economic depression is dangerous, and dangerously will we answer for it.

At the weekend Brown is quoted as saying that he is "on the side of the home owner and business owner". I wonder how the haulage companies who are being forced out of business because of excessive taxation on fuel and pensioners who can't afford to heat their homes view this statement?

Does Brown expect them to rejoice in the knowledge that he is "using every effort of every day that he wakes (how can we tell) trying to keep the economy on track".

Fuel tax is one of the major players in our worsening economy. If transporting our food to the supermarket is costing more to "keep on track", then inevitably the cost of food rises. Surely a self evident truth?

It doesn't seem self evident to Brown! Were he to reduce fuel prices by even a modest amount the effect on our economy would be such that what he loses in fuel tax will be more than compensated by increases in, for example, VAT revenue. Not so much a re-start as a bump start of the economy, and the return of freedom of choice back to the individual.

But perhaps not! Reducing fuel tax could be so popular that Brown could even be returned to Downing Street come the next election. So the question is, which is the lesser of two evils?

Peter Sharman, Arddleen