THE recent elections in France, together with Greece’s desire to opt out of the IMF austerity package, threatens to throw Europe into political and economic meltdown. Add these events to the obdurate response from the German leadership, insisting that the bailout plans funding Eurozone membership are not negotiable, one is left with the feeling that increasing civil unrest in these countries isn’t too far away and is likely to infect our sceptred isle.

I base my theory on the fact that our government, though outside this élite club, continues to follow the same economic policies that now stand rejected by the populations of this collective of nation states.

It is now time for the coalition to grasp the opportunity to deviate from our austerity path and inject some growth into the economy; invest in infrastructure projects to lower the unemployment numbers, and get banks lending some of the taxpayers’ billions to encourage business.

These measures alone will raise the confidence and self-esteem of our nation and its people. If they do not, I fear that ‘Idle hands make the Devil’s work’, will become less of a phrase, more of a reality.

Malcolm Richards, Aberthaw Road, Newport