AS the remaining Job Centres in Cornwall struggle to cope with fast-growing redundancies being added to normal seasonal job losses, the WMN reports that Job Centres are finding that coping with demands for what used to be called "the dole" is under such severe pressure that it is "grinding to a halt".

Ironically, this will ensure that people already in dire financial circumstances will be increasingly subjected to the added burden of delays in payments.

What makes me angry is the plight of people who have taken "government" jobs in the belief that they and their families were secure, when all the while they were victims of the Mickey Mouse system invented by New Labour to hide the real unemployment figures, which will surely soon be revealed – to everyone's dismay.

Not the least of these are the many local government officers who have manned the six district councils in Cornwall for so long and who are already in grindingly worrying limbo as they wait in suspense, for the Liberal Democrat-imposed unitary authority to decide which of them will have jobs in the replacement unelected "networks" in the New Year, and which will not.

All over the UK there is going to be misery this Christmas – not, in my view, as Gordon Brown would have us believe because of a "credit crunch" born in the USA, but because he has allowed lending and borrowing to run totally out of control in the UK, leaving people with unpayable debts, and, in too many cases, no roof over their heads and the heads of their children.

It shows us all a political irresponsibility in the Government which our country can no longer tolerate.

Tess Nash

Helston

Deer cull not needed

ONCE again, the Deer Initiative has decided there are "too many" deer and that they are causing "havoc".

The coalition – which includes groups that support hunting, shooting and the mass killing of many wild animals and birds that may "interfere" with these deadly pastimes – has announced that the number of deer killed on Exmoor should be increased from 150,000 to 500,000.

It does not say where it conjured up its figures, but reportedly admits that a similar call for a mass cull in East Anglia recently was based on "anecdotal evidence".

Deer – like most wild animals and birds – are already battling to survive despite dwindling natural habitat, increased development, pollution and climate change.

Thankfully, most people feel sympathy for their plight and are tolerant. What a shame the Deer Initiative doesn't share that compassionate view and focuses solely on the mass killing of these wonderful animals.

Kate Fowler-Reeves

Head of Campaigns Animal Aid Tonbridge, Kent

Insult to guests

PEOPLE may be aware that from this month the Government begins issuing what it calls, with an obvious nasty spin, "ID cards for foreigners". But they may not be aware what this means in practice.

First affected will be students and those marrying Britons. The plan is that, gradually, residents from outside Europe will be fingerprinted and have to account for their movements. Later, so would we all.

This is irrelevant to refugees and the poor unskilled with nothing to lose.

But successful foreigners such as Robinho or Kevin Spacey, and the overseas students who subsidise our universities, have a lot of choice where they study or exercise their talents, and some will decide Britain has become too unfriendly.

When the US introduced more hostile visa conditions, numbers applying to study there fell 15 per cent and Bill Gates complained that Microsoft could no longer hire some of the best software engineers.

If this scheme is continued it will lead to less fee income and lower international status for our educational institutions. British students will have to pay higher tuition to make up, and will have less money to spend with local businesses. Fewer of the world's star performers in every field will choose to make their homes here than do now.

We value the contribution these people make to our institutions and society, and think our country should treat them as guests, not criminal suspects. "ID cards for foreigners" is not just a small-minded slogan – Britain will suffer culturally and economically.

Phil Booth

National Coordinator, NO2ID

Guy Herbert

General Secretary, NO2ID London

Food for thought

THE articles by Vice-Admiral Sir Louis le Bailly were brilliant; I hope all your readers have read them and passed them on.

Further, the comments by S P Hirst of St Austell are so true.

I read once that a definition of war is a bayonet with a human being on each end. Amazing how this definition can be applied to the use of knives in our "civilised community" today, and the message to all concerned is why do we not respect the most precious of things – life itself?

Mike Bennett

Barnstaple

No smiling matter

THE Chancellor did not bring down increasing electricity, gas and other utility charges. I live on state pension and guarantee pension credit, so his pre-Budget report doesn't help me.

Gordon Brown should stop smiling on the Parliamentary benches – there is nothing to smile about.

Hyder Ali Pirwany

Okehampton