It is pension rise time again, and one is not encouraged by our leader ordering us to accept inflation at two per cent, this being based on statistics very carefully chosen to exclude any items that might affect the required result.

A quick count of the rise in expenditure on gas/electricity, fuel, food, council tax and other day-to-day expenses gives an expenditure increase of around £1,600 for my household since last April.

To a pensioner on fixed income (now falling rapidly in value after the skilful management of the economy by Mr Brown) of £12,000 to £13,000, after income tax, this represents inflation at around 13 per cent. Two per cent? What complete tosh!

A maximum 2.5 per cent rise, which is unlikely, will reduce to around 1.9 per cent after tax is taken back, and is a bit of an insult in the light of how our own councillors and our leaders in Westminster view their own needs.

David Milliband has said he relishes a fourth Labour term. He must excuse me if I do not view the prospect with such enthusiasm.

Looking on the bright side, there is an election in the offing, so there should be a few cheap bribes in the pipeline.

J A Whitmore, Springfield Road, York.