DESPITE the overwhelming evidence that his universal credit brainchild is rapidly becoming a financial and political disaster, Iain Duncan-Smith continues to insist that all is well with his pet project. The Work and Pensions Secretary recently insisted: “What I am doing is the right thing.”

In this respect he would seem to be following in the footsteps of Tony Blair, another messianic politician.

The world has paid a heavy price for Mr Blair’s unflinching belief in the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

When they failed to materialise he said without a trace of irony: “Look, I only know what I believe.”

It’s difficult to argue against that sort of reasoning.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.