ALTERNATE Conservative and Labour governments over 30 years brought us almost financial ruin with a national debt equal to every man, woman and child owing £25,000 (not to mention personal debt and mortgages) worse than many other industrialised nations, despite billions in north sea oil revenue, where did it go?

To many, the decline and asset stripping of our country began with Margaret Thatcher, the clever trick of selling to people what they already own, from council houses to the railways at knock down prices.

Our utilities and infrastructure snapped up by foreign governments. Then of course the big bang in the city of London set free the greed and the “oads of money culture” that was to blow up in our faces many years later, helped along by Gordon Brown’s light touch regulation.

The Conservatives found that it is easier to win elections when you are giving away money. That lesson was not lost on Labour, who continued to hold up our treasures for auction, even our gold reserves were plundered.

Our overseas ventures by Tony Blair cost billions in money and in lives destroyed. As the silver spoons ran low, Labour became addicted to borrowing, hawking our children’s future with PFI deals. The bubble inevitably burst but of course the bankers are blamed rather than governments we trusted to have proper oversight.

Is it funny or just tragic that once again most votes will be cast for the two parties guilty of creating the mess we’re in? There are many other options, Ukip clearly resonate a point of view. The Liberal Democrats get little credit for bringing stability to government and the Greens push on with idealistic goals, among others seeking election, so who really deserves support on May 7?

Alec Featherstone, Malton