SIR – The coalition Government has been accused of being ideologically obsessed with shrinking the size of the state whatever the social costs.

While they maintain that the current and future cuts are unavoidable; there is no alternative, they say. Who is right?

We need to be challenging the Government to prove that the damage these cuts will inevitably do to society are justified, while offering viable alternatives.

A clear alternative is to cut the deficit much more slowly.

Another is to alter the balance of deficit reduction, away from cuts and towards raising more money through a fairer tax system and reducing tax avoidance.

Another is through investing in areas that badly need it and that create jobs, such as the Green New Deal.

Rather than a zeal for cuts, we need a zeal for fairness and a better way of coping with the current economic situation.

Matthew Jenkins, Worcester Green Party