Labour needs a female leader

■ I VOTED Labour all my life and did so this time reluctantly. Looking back, I think the party has been going downhill since the unions backed Ed Miliband as leader instead of his brother David. Had David been leader the antiSemitism problem would have been sorted out straight away and the dramatic move to the left would not have happened.

For the whip to be withdrawn from Labour MPs who could not support the Corbyn frontbench ideas was a big mistake. So, let’s now move on and elect a woman to lead our party.

For me it’s a no-brainer – either Angela Rayner or Jess Phillips backed up by Andy Burnham as deputy leader. Let’s work to get back the Labour voters who, unlike me, couldn’t bring themselves to vote for them. I don’t blame them one bit. Sometimes a kick where it hurts does some good!

Keith Scott, Stevenage, Herts

■ As Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer and others lay out their stall to become the next Labour leader, I think whoever replaces Jeremy Corbyn has to be a woman. It is shameful that in the 21st century Labour has yet to have a female leader while the Tories have had two female PMs.

Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Angela Rayner are all very capable and any of them would have my vote. We need to come back stronger from this terrible defeat and win back the trust of those voters who deserted the party over Brexit and Corbyn. The infighting must stop and we must build a party that is fit for purpose so it can win power to govern in the interests of the people who so desperately need it.

J Wills, Manchester

■ As the hats go in the ring for the Labour leadership contest, it is surprising to many Labour voters that those who contributed to the terrible election result believe they are the answer. The Corbynistas appear to be ruling the roost which surely means a long spell in exile for the party. Instead of one of the election “losers” leading the party, perhaps it is time for the likes of Lisa Nandy to be given a chance? Mike Ganley, Heywood

Gtr Manchester

■ Corbyn should have resigned immediately after the election. The next leader will have to come to a more centrist position and purge the Momentum element from our party, including the likes of Jon Lansman, and then perhaps we can look forward to some sort of recovery.

Since Tony Blair, no other Labour leader has had any chance of defeating the Tories. I firmly believe to succeed we must move to the centre ground of British politics.

Brian E Mansbridge, Treharris Mid Glamorgan

■ With regards to who should be the next Labour Party leader, I am afraid Corbyn favourites Rebecca Long-Bailey and Angela Rayner would just result in 10 years of Tory rule. We need a tough leader who can take the fight to the Tories. Barbara Manning, Hexham Northumberland

■ A week on from our catastrophic defeat, the Labour Party will rise up from the ashes like the golden phoenix to once again take up the gauntlet on behalf of the have-nots and oppressed, and lead us to a brighter dawn.

T Churchill, Liverpool

■ Just because Labour suffered such a defeat we must not give up on our belief in the party as some have because truth is on our side. We need to stand tall, be strong and carry on our fight for the many – our day will come.

Jim Holbrough, Goole, East Yorks