The world-wide recession is beginning to bite in Oxford, with even Mini sales dropping (Oxford Mail, February 7).

There is almost nothing worse than losing your job or your home, and it is so important that we give all the help we can to people hit by the credit crunch.

That is why Gordon Brown stopped the banking system from collapsing, is giving real help to families, and is trying to get lending moving for businesses large and small.

When we come out of the recession, the wealthiest people will pay higher taxes to fund what we are doing now to support British jobs.

David Cameron’s policy is to do nothing and to cut public spending – the very worst thing to do in a recession.

The real help that Labour is giving to pensioners, the cut in VAT and the help for employers who take on the long-term jobless, is absolutely right. Now is the time to invest in education, in homes, in energy-saving technology and public transport for the future. That “one-eyed Scotsman” (in Jeremy Clarkson’s words) is the prime minister we need to protect Oxford from the worst of the recession.

The MP for Witney fails to see that doing nothing would have us all on the dole, unable to pay our mortgages or even heat our homes.

JOHN TANNER,Oxford City Councillor, Sunningwell Road,Oxford