OUR MP James Gray was most brave to denounce the unfair system brought about by the Barnett formula.

By telling the truth it brought about his resignation as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Scottish parliament has introduced free long term care for the elderly and abolished University top up fees. The Welsh assembly has frozen prescription fees and intends to abolish them altogether.

We here in England have to sell our homes to pay for elderly health care; take out loans to cover the costs of education and many cannot afford prescription charges. This despite the fact that English taxpayers are paying for Scottish and Welsh spending.

This inequality is brought about by the Barnett formula which was introduced as a temporary measure in 1978.This has resulted in spending per head of population in Scotland 25 per cent higher than in England and in Wales 18 per cent higher.

Lord Barnett has recently stated that he is embarrassed by having his name still attached to what has become an unjust formula. One can only hope that James Gray will continue his fight against such manifest unfairness.

At the recent election the Conservatives in England won 60,000 more votes than did Labour making them the largest party south of the border, yet Labour won 93 more seats in England than did the Tories. What has happened to democracy? We here in this country urgently need a referendum regarding an English parliament.

B D COOMBS

Chippenham