IF Geoffrey Bulmer is to believed about how Gordon Brown got it right to seek international approval by treasuries on how to stem the downturn in trade and restore growth (HAS, Oct 23), why isn’t Mr Brown on his legs in the House of Commons pointing out how right he was?

No, like a deposed party leader before him, in this case a Conservative, he is in a childlike pet, denying he did anything wrong. Even his old acolytes don’t refer to him, other than to say mea culpa, we got it wrong.

As for Hugh Pender (HAS, also Oct 23), I would point out that of the approximate £7bn bonuses expected to be paid to City high fliers, about 45 per cent will come straight back in tax and National Insurance.

Unlike police, civil servants, consultants, etc, their bonuses do depend on achievement, not just turning up and doing the work for which they were contracted.

Dennis Clark, Billingham.