It’s good to see that a Tory MP is moved to tears by witnessing the terrible poverty that exists in this country (‘I’ve absolutely had enough’: Tory MP embarks on anti-austerity tour, 24 January). But if they didn’t know about this already, Tory MPs were clearly alerted to by the recent report by the UN’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty – a report that was either denounced or ignored by members of Heidi Allen’s party. Allen appears to acknowledge that the much of the poverty she has witnessed is the result of her party’s austerity policies.
The honourable thing she should do is not only to openly criticise these policies but to walk over to join the ranks of a party that genuinely wants to eradicate poverty and promote progressive policies that ensure the redistribution of wealth.
Ralph Mackridge
Chagford, Devon
• It is hard to square Heidi Allen’s reported distress at the extent of poverty in modern Britain with her membership of the party that caused it. What did she think would happen when she repeatedly voted in favour of cuts to tax credits and benefits? It is like torpedoing a ship and being surprised at people drowning. Now she wants to “show the government this exists”. They already know, and they don’t appear to care. Why would they, when they can still rely on Allen’s vote?
Jane Middleton
Bath
• Polly Toynbee asks why people don’t rebel (Britain, a meritocracy? That’s fantasy, 25 January). A day without eating properly lowers mood. Hunger causes depression because insufficient nourishment is going to the brain. The people Polly met at food banks and Citizens Advice are likely by this stage to be experiencing typical symptoms, guilt, self-blame, self-loathing, altered and reduced brain function. Everything seems one’s own fault whether it is or not. (I’m tempted to suggest the government are well aware of this.)
Rosina Dalziel
Lamerton, Devon
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