THE handling of the United Kingdom's economy by Chancellor Gordon Brown reminds me of a poker game.

His demeanour indicates that he has a strong hand, but let's take a look at it.

Card one is record consumer debt with personal and business bankruptcies at an all time high.

Card two is the worst figures for first-time house buyers in 25 years and unsustainable house prices.

Card three is one million manufacturing jobs lost since Labour came to power and more jobs going abroad. Card four is rising unemployment and taxation.

Card five is crumbling pension schemes.

He is a good cheat at cards too. From up his sleeve he deviously dealt himself other cards to improve his chances. To avoid breaking his Golden Rule he introduced a card that altered the start year to buy himself ten extra years.

Let's look at the other players. The Tories, desperately playing catch-up, trying to please everyone. They keep dropping their cards on the floor, picking them up in confusion and reshuffling, hoping to get a good hand.

The Liberal Democrats have been dealt a couple of jokers recently, but if they pursue left-of-centre policies which reward all pensioners and the lower paid, they could well be the winners of this poker game.

T Scaife,

Manor Drive North,

York.

Updated: 10:42 Monday, February 13, 2006