AS an English great unwashed, aka working class, I have become an octogenarian disillusioned with our metropolitan masters in the Palace of Westminster.

In 1945, we Brits elected our greatest government, headed by PM Clement Atlee. Locally, the welfare state appeared. Nationally, essential supplies, natural monopolies, were headed up by boards.

Industries including electricity, gas, coal, water, even milk had first class apprenticeships to provide the skills needed to guarantee essentials.

National electricity supply quickly became world class, with everything installed and maintained in house, including nuclear power stations.

From the 1970s the establishment reacted – unions were targeted, then came the privatisation, dismantling and demolishing of previous good public work.

The City was deregulated, asset strippers, money lenders, currency speculators and fund managers flocked in. Offshore depositories bloomed to hide their swag.

The City and government closed ranks. Loans replaced government grants and debt ballooned. Austerity was proclaimed.

Many of our poorest children now attend school dirty and hungry.

Pimps and zero hour contracts await school leavers.

Food banks have replaced soup kitchens.

Six new underfunded regions are to join the existing six with their elected assemblies. London remains paramount, piling up national debt.

We in the North-East (counties Durham and Northumberland) will be the minnow.

If we require good local policing and community care, extra taxes will have to be imposed.

Otherwise, everything is fine.

F Evans, Sunderland