Our MPs are quite right to be concerned about unemployment levels in our area but I think politicians can do very little as there are more people unemployed than there are jobs available.

The fact the unemployed are always reading the views of smug people in the news – demanding tougher action from Government on so- called benefit culture and scroungers – doesn’t help either.

Looking at it realistically, politicians would be afraid of their own legislation if they were to bring in tougher measures. Governments and cabinet ministers only have five years between general elections to push through their wish-list.

They have to keep most of the electorate happy, which includes the unemployed, to be able to keep their lucrative jobs. As we all know, fate can deal anyone a bad hand and today anyone could face a prison sentence for the most trivial of offences.

After the recent MPs’ allowances and expenses scandal, would any middle-aged politician relish the prospect of sharing a prison cell with a gang of violent young men who would cut your face off for a packet of cigarettes because they were forced to commit crimes after having their dole money cut or stopped?

Politicians are not that brave or stupid.

Ian Hunt, Pavilion Road, Worthing