THERE is no easy solution to the economic crisis, but austerity is not the answer.

Martin Smith’s criticism of Ed Balls as one of the architects of this disaster is misplaced (Letters, May 26).

As this disaster is occurring throughout much of the rest of the world, the Government’s cutting out waste is fine; but cutting back when people are doing a useful job is not, Heathrow passport control being just one example.

As for waste, David Cameron can look at the £250 million-plus waste he caused with the aircraft carrier fiasco.

We are now in a position where, especially people at the bottom, can’t have a pay rise to keep with inflation. This means after paying bills, there is less disposable income and they can’t pay all their bills.

No disposable income means more businesses fail, more businesses failing means more people with less money to spend with businesses. So the spiral of poverty gets bigger.

Until the Government starts to create jobs and allow people’s income to grow – that’s the people at the lower end, the people at the top are doing very nicely, thank you – the country will continue to follow the same path as Greece and no amount of austerity will cure this.

Chris Mangham, Lindsey Avenue, Acomb, York.