Timothy Oates lists a host of reasons why Gordon Brown’s legacy ‘leaves a lot to be desired’ (December 10) but forgets to mention the one that has probably had the greatest impact and done the most lasting damage.
One of his first acts as Chancellor was to scrap the tax relief on pension fund dividends. The Office for Budget Responsibility recently calculated that it had cost the Pension Industry £118 billion since 1997. His raid on pension funds has helped wreck personal pensions and fuelled the closure of final salary pension schemes. Those that haven’t closed have been forced to reduce benefits and restrict membership. Sadly, none of this applies to Mr Brown’s pension.
Barry Phillips Beech House Holton
Today’s letters
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