AS pensioners on fixed incomes, my wife and I are finding that we're now having to raid our meagre savings in order to meet the above 35 per cent rises in our fuel and energy bills and, of course, the mounting cost of food.

We've never relied on the state to provide for us, and have proudly supported ourselves through our own endeavours from the start to the end of our working lives and have willingly paid our taxes to provide public services and so on for our fellow citizens.

During that time, we raised our family while managing to put away a few pounds each month towards our retirement, and of course we were members of our employers' pension schemes.

We now live in a culture where the "market" dictates that success depends upon the "survival of the fittest".

In this case, the "fittest" are epitomised by the huge earnings of the executive officers and shareholders of the oil, energy and food companies et al, gained by squeezing the resources of the "weakest" in our society who are finding it harder and harder each day to survive in this jungle.

The suggestion of a windfall tax on the oil and energy companies is being met by threats of reduced investment and yet higher prices. Can we expect anything else from these denizens?

To donate taxes for the good of the country is a mark of a civilised society. To use whatever means available to avoid taxes is an example of greed and selfishness on the part of those who thrive when others struggle.

Until these companies and shareholders accept that their prosperity and well-being is dependent on the "weakest" being able to pay for their goods and services, they should be subjected to a "short, sharp, shock" in the form of a windfall tax to remind them that their exorbitant profits and dividends came from the pockets of those who they refuse to help in these difficult times.

If necessary, a windfall tax should be used on a regular basis as an aide-memoir for those who greedily raid the taxpayer's purse while contributing nothing to their benefit.

A Labour Government should be proud and ready to support the calls for this tax from more than two-thirds of the people of Britain, and – surprise, surprise – more than 70 per cent of Tory MPs.

If they don't have the bottle to do so, then they fully deserve the mass resignations from the party and the low poll ratings that have persisted for more than a year.

Tony Probert, Locking, near Weston-super-Mare.