I read with interest comments from Steve Helsdon (A voter’s priority, Letters, April 2). Steve fails to take into account that the recent recession was a global phenomenon.

Steve can accuse Gordon Brown all he wants for the recession, but did he or the actions of the Labour Government cause the recession in America? Germany? Australia? Or anywhere else for that matter?

Steve says Labour inherited a thriving economy. What he fails to mention is that a £350 billion national debt also doubled in five years under John Major. Furthermore, Labour inherited rising inflation because the Conservatives failed to take the necessary action on interest rates. This is why Labour put this power in the hands of the Bank of England.

Conservatives try to portray this economic myth that the only way to deal with public debt is to cut public spending. It is an easy myth, as it is what people do with their personal budgets.

However, Keynes has shown time and time again that such cuts in public spending make recessions worse and can lead to depression.

Furthermore, Conservatives do not traditionally spend less than Labour. When Labour came to power in 1997 public spending was no lower than when Thatcher came to power in 1979.

It is a fact that in what Steve refers to as the “biggest recession of all time” unemployment is still less than it was in the previous recession under the Conservatives and repossessions are almost half what they were in the previous recession.

Did this happen by magic? As Steve has said, this is the worst recession of all time. No, this happened because Gordon Brown had the courage to do what is right and begin a fiscal stimulus package to help poorer people during this recession.

The recovery is fragile and the Conservatives would wreck it.

Coun James Alexander, Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate for York Outer, Holgate Road, York.