Sir, – I know we are in difficult economic times. But there is one easy decision that could spare a lot of the “tough ones”. A tax on the banks could raise £20 billion in the UK to help those hit by the financial crisis in this country and around the world.

For every cut I hear the Government announce I keep asking: could a tax on the banks have paid for that?

The situation we find ourselves in started in the financial sector and we spent £1.4bn bailing them out. We are all paying for a party we weren’t quite invited to.

I want to see my MP and leaders start fighting for a tax that would make Robin Hood proud.

Another measure would be tracing “tax avoiders” and acting against them; not all benefit claimants are “scroungers”.

ROSE NUGENT Dodds Street, Darlington