SIR – The crimes of Mick Philpott and his associates were appalling in the extreme and deserve every condemnation.

Equally deserving of condemnation is the shabby attempt by George Osborne to link Mr Philpott’s life on benefits with the horrific crime.

In the Chancellor’s own words, “there are questions ...about the welfare state ...subsidising lifestyles like that.”

For me it is wholly unacceptable to take such an extremely exceptional (indeed isolated) case and use it as a stick with which to beat the recipients of benefits, 99.9 per cent of whom do not behave in this manner.

The Conservatives, to their shame, are leading an assault on the welfare state and are ruthlessly deploying a “divide and rule” policy to segregate into two opposing camps the “strivers” and the “shirkers”.

The chief executive of Ipsos Mori opines that “whatever the ethics, Osborne’s move is probably good politics” since what Osborne says resonates with majority public opinion.

I disagree. The Tory narrative debases and demeans our political discourse. It may bring short-run gains, but poisons our politics long term.

What we need are statesmen who are signposts to better things – not weather-vanes, registering ill-thought through public feelings.

John Cole, Oakroyd Terrace, Baildon