THIS once great nation ruled the seven seas and, rightly or wrongly, governed and attempted to bring civilisation to half the world (after first pillaging its goodies).

We are now reduced to a “no win, no fee” mentality where adults are not allowed to hug a distressed child, fetes are not allowed games without expensive insurance and village communities are not allowed to put up decorations unless they hire a cherry-picker.

We are run by a government which, prior to the Iraq war, could not find the money to bail out the NHS, but could – when beckoned by George Bush, who will go down in history as the most inept US president ever – find the money for bombs and bullets to kill and maim.

I believe Saddam Hussein needed removing, but it was not our job, nor that of the US. The Arab states should have set their own house in order.

As always, it is the man and woman in the street who picks up the pieces, either financially or in supplying their children to man (and woman) the guns.

We need a Churchillian figure and to turn the clock back 50 years.

Harold Mackenley, Cockfield, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.