DT MURRAY (HAS, Oct 14) states that changes in relation to pensions will leave miners and their widows out of pocket.

Indeed, he echoes the British Coal Pension Trustees, who state the proposal is a “nightmare”. I don’t agree. I call it chickens coming home to roost.

This country is facing a financial abyss that is of our own making.

Britain once had industries that were the envy of the world – shipbuilding, steel, car manufacturers and coalfields Europe dreamt of.

All of them are lost forever due to militant unions and feckless governments, who couldn’t see past the next strike or wage demand.

The miners themselves destroyed their own living in a misguided strike that ended in an embarrassing defeat for them and victory for the Conservative government of the day.

The miners should count their lucky stars they get a pension at all.

Joe Wellthorpe, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough.