'I can't wait for the autumn budget to see how much they will want off us so we can suffer a little more' - Your Letters: July 3

Bus fare increases again, it doesn't seem too long ago that they were increased anyway - has anyone notice any improvement from that increase? Now another 10p here and 20p there. I have noticed several things though, firstly the lack of passengers on the buses, very often I see a lone driver, then I have waited for a bus at a particular time, which did not arrive but looking at the time for the next one was only a few minutes away, then that time moved and I waited longer, it never came so I gave up and went home to do what I wanted to do another time, but while I was waiting I did see six, yes six buses go in the opposite direction to where I wanted to go.

I look back to years gone by and remembered when I used to catch the bus the fare was calculated by individual stops, but in today's chaotic travel by bus the price for one stop is the same as if you were going to the end destination, so why should people pay the same for a couple of stops as for the full destination? How is it that a fair way to treat passengers. Like everything else in the world today we all pay more for less and it keeps happening.

Council tax but no better service, water charges increased and still our rivers and seas are polluted, shareholders and executives have big pay-outs, gas companies and electric companies increase their prices and again we are told time and time again the services will improve, when are we going to see these improvements, the NHS given billions to improve but the executives all appear to be the only ones to prosper, even our lovely MPs have been given an substantial rise and have we seen any benefits yet, National Insurance increased for employers, so they cannot or will not take on new staff and even made some redundant, farmers hit by the inheritance tax.

So, I say carry on bus companies do your worst the buses are practically empty now so good luck getting more blood out of the stone that is the working class, after all it's only 10p and 20p but it is 10p and 20p we will not have next week, the pockets of the ordinary folk are not as deep as those who keep taking it.

I just can't wait for the autumn budget and see how much they will want off us then so that we can all suffer a little more while those with the money can dine out from the proceeds of the increases to pay for those elusive better services we are always promised but never really see, oh we'll never mind we all know the old saying 'much wants more'.

Pete Lowe, Brierley Hill

PENSION RISE STOLEN BY TAX

I've just received a rise in my private pension (which having this pension prevents me from claiming many benefits). But the shock of receiving the rise (takes the micky), the rise is taxed, but not a percentage but all of it. Every penny is taxed, so I do not receive any of the rise. HM the inspector of taxes say because of the (said) rise my tax code is changed. So I do not receive a penny of it - the tax man does.

I'm sick to death of this Labour Government targeting pensioners. We are a tax cow for Keir Starmer’s clan. There are millions not paying tax, working cash-in hand. Illegals working not paying NI or tax, claiming benefits and working.

Why have I paid into the system for 60 years?

D Griffiths, Wolverhampton

FEEDING FRENZY ON WEAK PM

One year in power, three big U-turns already and a Prime Minister going abroad to world meetings as often as he can to get away from the mess. Could we already have a lame duck Government with four years to go until a General Election?

Uncle Norbert reckons that when sharks and Labour back benchers smell blood there will always be a feeding frenzy, although he added that when they are full up sharks stop attacking.

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

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