MR MACKIE, the prospective Conservative candidate, ought not to censure the Chancellor, Mr Brown for taxation by stealth (Daylight Robbery, SUM 3rd August) because the Tories are past masters of that art.

Before they were elected they never told us that they were going to:- More than double the rate of VAT; commence the phased abolition of the married person's tax allowance and mortgage tax relief; introduce the petrol tax escalator; Introduce the poll tax; tax our heat, holidays, insurance and dustbins.

Once in power they did all this.

David E Unwin, Urmston

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