‘Sporting events such as the Test matches and Wimbledon were sold out’

• BEFORE the start of last winter the Labour Party claimed that millions of pensioners would be faced with the choice of either starving to death or freezing to death. As far as I am aware the winter deaths were no more than average.

Wherever I look the pubs and restaurants seem to be doing a good trade. The airports are crowded with 7.8 million Britons visiting Spain in the first six months of the year.

Sporting events such as the Test matches and Wimbledon were sold out. There will be 60,000 spectators at the next Arsenal home game. Last week the cinemas reported record takings at the box office.

I’ll believe there really is a crisis when the betting shops, bingo halls and the tattoo parlours start closing down. Can’t see that happening can you?

PATRICK BURKE
Barbican, EC2