Identifying the scourge of the great wealth divide, Michael Meacher, former Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton,

The annual Sunday Times Rich List yields four very important conclusions for the governance of Britain (Report, Weekend, 28 April.) It shows that the richest 1,000 persons, just 0.003% of the adult population, increased their wealth over the last three years by £155bn. That is enough for themselves alone to pay off the entire current UK budget deficit and still leave them with £30bn to spare.