SIR – About half a million elderly and vulnerable people are being shamefully hit with punishing increases in bills they must pay for basic health care services, such as bathing, cleaning and meals on wheels.

The average home care bill is reported to be between £7,000-£10,000 depending on which area you live, or average hourly rates of £13.49 – a six per cent increase over two years.

This increase is because councils, which have had their budgets cut by the Government, are using taxpayers as cash cows to claw back their money.

These rises now leave the old and disabled or their families with an agonising choice between decimating their life savings or going without the help needed to live a dignified life.

Yet our politically correct leaders still forge ahead with the vast overseas aid programme and give millions to countries such as Brazil, which has recently risen above us in the global economy league table, and £1.4 billion to India, a country which has its own space programme.

We now give more than wealthier countrys such as Germany and the USA. The message is clear: Britian must put its own vulnerable first.

Overseas aid must be either frozen or cut, and only handed to the countries that really do need it thus allowing that money to look after people such as the elderly who have paid a lifetime’s tax into the system.

If the Government fails you then the message is loud and clear to all the elderly and vunerable: you have a vote, make sure you use it correctly at the next election.

GARY B DIPPER
Freedom Democrats