WITH the General Election weeks away, I compare Russell Brand’s advice to first-time voters to that which I was given in second half of the 1940s by my parents, who had lived through two world wars and the great depression.

Since we were a comfortably-off churchgoing family, they said our duty was to vote for a more fair and just society and especially for policies that would make life easier for those who were poor and vulnerable.

In the continuing light of that advice, I am looking for manifestos that propose a wholly public health service, subsidised council housing, rent controls, a living wage and – to make this feasible – progressive taxation and strong measures to prevent tax evasion by global corporations and the super rich.

It would be good to see a first-time voters’ wish list.

Maurice Vassie, Deighton, York.