I AM writing with reference to Hugh Bayley's letter (Labour's Done A Lot For OAPs, August 28).

He submitted a spiel from central office, quoting a long list of past Labour gestures, which had the relationship to increased demands from the public purses and basic life support of the tortoise and the hare. The hare has never faltered, but increases his speed as his opponent gets older.

Many pensioners are having to sell their homes to pay for their continued presence in the race. The human race.

The message is slanted for the consumption of comfortably and a bit better-off readers, to assure them that they really do not need to worry about the moaning minority. They are getting a good deal out of your taxes. By 2012, if we can afford it, there might be fewer of them with their trivialities, and we can throw them a few more crumbs and another extended promise.

For those who complain loudest, "I'll do everything I can..."; "pensioners deserve more...."; "I agree a works pension makes all the difference..."; "more needs to be done...."; " I have argued for this"...; "I'll keep pressing Labour to do more"; and "it was the Conservatives who broke the link between the basic state pension and earnings".

It isn't long to 2012.

George Appleby, Leighton Croft, Clifton, York.