GEOFF ROBB of Dunnington (Letters, December 19) believes the economy is in good hands. He says George Osborne is on the right track to get government spending down to 35 per cent of GDP – as, according to him, last achieved in the 1930s.

An interesting angle until the electorate bear in mind that between 1945 and 2014, this country has been run for the majority of years by the Tories.

Between 1945 and 2014, the Tories have had control of Westminster for 39 years as opposed to 30 years of Labour control, with the last four years being the coalition.

It is worth bearing in mind that when Labour took control of Westminster in 1945 (after a period of 10 years of Tory control, 1935-1945), the percentage of government expenditure to GDP ran at around 60 per cent.

Between 1945 and 1951, under Labour, that ratio had reduced to around 32 per cent and since then has fluctuated between 32 per cent to around 50 per cent. The electorate will make their own minds up in May, but they should not be misled by false statements.

I urge them not to believe the Tory view that the collapse of the economy (2008-2010) was Labour’s fault. It was the fault of fraudulent and negligent bankers.

History seems to prove that the Tories have been the worst managers of this country’s economy.

To misquote Harold Macmillan: “Let us be frank about it, most of our people have never had it so bad.”

Howard Perry, St James Place, Dringhouses, York.