The top ten per cent of people in London have 273 times more disposable income than the bottom ten per cent. This huge disparity was last seen in the days of slavery.

The UK is a nation full of “slaves”, living sub-standard lives on meagre incomes. Lives blighted by unemployment, fear of losing jobs, homes and an insecure future of little pension, exacerbated by politicians who pick on the unemployed and disabled to reduce benefits so they can make the rich even richer.

Companies that should be supported are collapsing, yet politicians do nothing. York has lost up to 10,000 manufacturing jobs in recent decades.

The claim that 29 million are employed in the UK is fatuous. At least a quarter are in part-time work, not full-time employment.

People therefore need to lean on the benefits system, creating a “them and us” mentality.

Technology replaces labour, though it could be viewed the opportunity for more leisure that Harold Macmillan envisaged in the early 1960s. Yet the “I’m all right Jack” brigade are alive and well, judging by their sour comments about welfare benefits and company closures.

By streamlining the lumbering welfare system and cutting extravagant subsidies and quangos we can make automatic payments to all NI-registered UK employed and unemployed adults. Public-sector employees, including politicians, are already paid by the State.

Due to this State subsidy, private companies’ wages bills would reduce relatively, in return for higher employment of British workers. In tandem with graduated taxation and NHS insurance payable from non-UK patients, the wealth-gap can be narrowed.

Carers should be paid the minimum wage and networks created for working from home.

Local not-for-profit mortgage and enterprise banks could provide affordable housing and support for British based business.

The UK should distance itself from the EU, becoming self- sufficient.

T Scaife, Manor Drive, York.