IN response to Alec Wall's letter (Ludlow Advertiser September 16) we accept some of his points, specifically about the Iraq war, Blair and the gap between the rich and poor not narrowing enough.

However, at the heart of our disagreement with Mr Wall are the different core philosophies of each political party. Tories don't like to question or use reason; their philosophy turns to emotional rallying cries about family values, tradition, Christian marriage, the class system and its institutions and maintaining the status quo. They believe an unregulated market rules everywhere and somehow "trickles down" goodies for the poor. The lie of that brand of capitalism was exposed by the worldwide financial collapse.

Labour believes in a compassionate and responsible society where everyone's talents can be developed.

This shows in its record of achievements when in government: The welfare state, the Open University, legalisation of homosexuality, the minimum wage, promoting workers’ rights and equal pay for women, and civil partnerships.

The hypocritical Big Society is a return to a supposed golden age of Victorian values where everyone knew their place – the rich man in his castle, the poor man at the gate, and where charity was administered to the "deserving poor" while the "undeserving poor" were left homeless and starving.

PAT AND TREVOR INNES, Ludlow, Shropshire.