• MORE than 200 asylum seekers crammed into appalling conditions – is this how a rich, supposedly civilised country treats people (Asylum hell in a house of horrors, August 17)?

No, it’s how Tory Britain treats people, including people born and raised here, while letting the rich do what they like.

The Home Office knows how badly these people are being treated, but says its contractors were responsible. Now where have I heard that before?

Oh, I know, when the government was looking for someone to blame for the dangerous tower blocks that have been built over decades, showing how appalling all our recent governments have been as they focused on passing as many bucks as they could to others. And “bucks” to others to profit from these services.

This is what lies behind the nasty penny-pinching we are seeing in every area of life across the whole of Britain.

Care homes and council housing sold off, energy and water companies privatised, along with the rail system, and on and on and on. All of these essential services are now owned by others, generating profits for them rather than government. And we cannot do a thing about it.

In addition, we must not forget that many of the world’s problems are a direct consequence of our colonial past, up to and including stupidities like our military involvements in Iraq, Libya, and Syria. The least we should do is help those fleeing the many disasters get a new life.

Most British people are caring: every day of every week I see and hear about people acting to improve lives and help others, but the Tories only see the cost.

DAVID REED
Eton Avenue, NW3