TORY employment minister Esther McVey could always write jokes for Christmas crackers if she were to be booted out of Wirral West next May.

Esther recently quipped that "50 is the new 30" as the Tories hilariously use misinformation to dismiss age as an excuse to eradicate the state pension.

Prankster McVey says that if the 1.2 million unemployed over-50s were in work, £50bn could be added to the economy. But it is only in her febrile imagination these non-existent jobs could materialise.

Having been at the centre of benefits sanctions and punitive new rules against the disabled, does Esther ever consider the increasing number committing suicide after their meagre benefits were withdrawn?

For those affected, it is no joke being at the receiving end of Tory policies that appear to have fallen out of a Christmas cracker.

Tom Scaife, Manor Drive, York.