I enjoyed Vicky Allan's essay about fairness in society (Who said life was supposed to be fair?, Comment, October 5).

The unfairness of the UK was probably my main reason for voting Yes in the referendum.

When 1% of the population own 55% of the wealth and rising, it is clear that our society is not working properly - certainly not for the other 99% of the population.

Significant change is impossible under Westminster rule. Westminster is in the pocket of the rich and powerful, run by the public school establishment, in thrall to the City of London and big business, and there to serve the interests of international capitalism, from which they profit. Any threat to this cosy cabal was traditionally dealt with by sending a gunboat - or in the most recent case, a train - full of Labour MPs. Once the unrest is quelled, it is back to business as usual. In the days after the referendum it was back to kicking the poor, bombing the Middle East, and as for pledges of "reform" - aye, right.

The light at the end of the tunnel is the hugely energised population of disappointed Yes voters, who show no sign of settling back into acceptance of their place in the world, and are rightly outraged at the unjust governance to which they are subject.

Les Mackay

Dundee

George Osborne decrees that 18- to 21-year-olds will be denied access to housing benefit and have benefits frozen if they don't get a job or join a community programme within six months (United against war on the poor, News, October 5). This reveals not just his barbaric social cruelty but also his ignorance. Where are these jobs? I am associated with a community project which employs numbers of young people, but far more apply than can be recruited. The rejected are keen to work - too bad, they must be punished. Projects are also willing to run community programmes. But Osborne ignores the fact that they cost money at a time when local authorities - because of cuts imposed on them by the government - have to reduce their grants to voluntary organisations. No doubt he will freeze the benefits of those who do not get on non-existent programmes.

Perhaps Osborne can answer a question. In 2003, Iain Duncan Smith at a Conservative conference publicly announced that the next Tory government would ensure that locally-run projects would receive financial support direct from central government. He has not forgotten because I have face-to-face reminded him. Is he a liar? Or, like Osborne, does he just enjoy doing everything possible to make the poor suffer?

Bob Holman

Glasgow