SIR: Thinking about this Tory Government's shocking social and economic record, my thoughts went back to that period now named the 'Hungry Thirties', to a pie-eating contest that took place at a pub in the district of Halliwell.

I must compare the eventual winner to this government's attitude to the lower working classes and their almost total disregard for the problem of homelessness and the unemployed.

The winner of the pie-eating contest ate 25 meat pies; his prize was eight pints of sparkling bitter, plus another two meat and potato pies which he consumed quite quickly. He then decided to leave the pub and on his way out he stole a blind man's Woodbines. On his arrival home he gave his wife a good hiding because his supper wasn't ready.

Whether this story of the 'Hungry Thirties' is true or not, the comparison is quite obvious to Margaret Thatcher's idea of an ideal society, 'I'm all right Jack'.

L Bradburn, Nevis Grove, Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.