Brown 'naive' over big bank bail-out

My letter written following the Government's bail-out of Northern Rock (Your Say, April 28) advised that banking was the business to be in because, however big a mess you made of it, the Government would bail you out.

Subsequent events have given me no reason to change my mind.

I don't blame the banks for their refusal to lend nor for their reward of success with high bonus payments. I blame the naive fool who poured tens of billions of pounds into their coffers, apparently without enforceable restrictions on how the funds could be used.

The proposal to pour money into manufacturing motor vehicles and building houses is ludicrous in the extreme when demand for both is at rock bottom.

The money would be far better employed boosting agricultural and domestic food production – a course of action we could be thankful for far sooner than we may think.

Unlike the rapidly growing majority of the electorate, the banks seem to have Gordon Brown exactly where they want him.

Alan Parker Puxton