Jim Green, of Totnes, writes:

Many people who voted Conservative in May will be regretting their choice now that it is dawning on them they will be affected personally by the forthcoming cut in tax credits.

Given the planned reduction in inheritance tax, the tax credit cuts represent a direct transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich.

It is easy to see where the Government’s sympathy lies – and it’s not with ordinary ­people.

Michael Swinson, of Haytor Drive, Ivybridge, writes:

The Conservative Govern-ment is intending to reduce considerably the tax credits that the poorer families in our area receive.

Tax credits are paid to people who have families, are in work and on low wages. They need these credits to be able to afford homes and food for their ­children.

It is totally unfair that the less well-off are having to pay for this Government’s targeted reduction in spending while those on higher pay have enjoyed a tax cut.

The Government keeps asserting that it is increasing the minimum rate of pay to ­offset this reduction, but this is of no benefit to those earning just above this rate and who will now be struggling to pay their rent or mortgage and provide food for their family.

Many of the poorer-paid ­people are employees of the Government – civil servants who have seen real cuts in their already low salaries.

It is time for the Government to become a little more honourable.

Margaret Newton, of Orchard Way, Chillington, writes:

To make cuts to the income of low-paid working people is morally wrong before safeguards are put in place with the promised rise of the living wage.

Many of these people are ­carers with children and ­elderly parents, often on zero-hours contacts with no sick or holiday pay and exploited

by agencies that make huge ­profits.

We rely on these workers to supply the care to our sick and disabled elderly in their own homes. Out of sight and out of mind. Please ask the minister and Mr Cameron to think again.

We have to end child ­poverty. This policy will cause more stress and hunger in one of the richest countries in the world, where foreign aid is ­distributed like toffee. It is immoral.

Patricia Grant, of Westonfields, Totnes, writes:

Many people locally are ­completely opposed to the cuts to tax credits.

The people most affected are working people with children, with 500,000 likely to be living below the poverty line if these cuts go ahead.

This is iniquitous in a rich country such as ours.

Ama Menec, of Hayes Close, Totnes, writes:

One in seven people in the UK are self-employed and many of those live below the poverty line.

Raising a ‘living wage’ won’t help the self-employed, and they will take a double cut if working tax credits are cut.

If they are earning less than the minimum wage they will not be eligible to get working tax credits, and the window of acceptable earnings is a very narrow one. Too low and you won’t get universal credit, too high and you won’t get it either.

This will affect millions of people, including me.

Kristina Bieganski, of Seymour Terrace, Totnes, writes:

If I had not received tax ­credits I would not have been able to support myself and my children after my husband abandoned the family.

I was able to receive the adult education training to enable me back into self-employed work as a hairdresser, which I am hugely grateful for.

The tax credits help me ­support my children’s future as adults, who I hope will not have to depend on any benefits and will be able to stand on their own two feet with decently paid jobs.

The tax credits help me pay for my son’s school dinners and positive extracurricular activities.

In a society where pay, rents, house prices and public ­transport costs do not correlate – particularly in the South Hams – how are people supposed to live and make ends meet? It is essential to ­support the community and families.