Jeremy Hunt’s remarks show a lack of respect for working people | Letters

The outrageous views of Jeremy Hunt demonstrate failures of logic and humanity (Hunt: Britons must work like the Chinese, 6 October). I suppose we should not be surprised by his apparent ignorance of psychology, motivation and self-worth, but to suggest (as his pronouncements surely do) that the lives of children currently living in poverty will be improved by making parents work harder flies in the face of the current economic, material and psychological circumstances many of these families endure. It is also sheer wilful arrogance to say this at a time when, for instance, in the north-east another 1,700 families are likely to enter poverty as a result of the closure of the Redcar steelworks. Hunt's view deserves the opprobrium he receives. For him to protest that his remarks have been (wilfully) misinterpreted is further demonstration of his lack of sensitivity and skill as a communicator. Calls for his resignation would not be out of order.
Dr Simon Gibbs
Newcastle upon Tyne

" For the past five years I have been in receipt of working tax credit while running a very small business. During that time I would have been quite literally better off not working at all, and living off various age- and means-tested benefits. Why have I been working? I have no idea. Obviously not because of any sense of dignity or self-respect on my part.