IF action is not taken on the staggering deficit... If lessons have to be learnt...

Let’s look at where all the money went, £13 billion on the Olympic Games, that is £14,000 per adult, of a population of 63 million people.

Then two aircraft carriers — £23 billion, not including aircraft or ammunitions. Also putting aside for Polaris and missiles another £23 billion. Bailing out the banks, £45 billion.

When we compare this to what amount is needed for the likes of schools, roads, rail, airports and, of course, welfare of our citizens, it seems that we have a very big money tree — but only a few can pick from it.

The same old defence adage will be “we need protecting”. What we need protecting from is ourselves, to allow so much to be spent on “pride” and being macho and neglecting children, the infirm and the poor.

Just take a look around our boarded-up shops, potholes in roads, run off our feet chasing our rear end, fighting one another for jobs.

Until we spend and not hoard and use our money wisely, we will be in the 1930s situation and war is inevitable.

We need to do something sensible and be sane about what we do, not pushing our agenda all around the world.

N A Darwen St Georges Avenue Westhoughton