Time to step it up a gear, Keir
If Labour are to make serious, widespread electoral progress, Keir Starmer must stop being so timid, put his head above the parapet and make strong promises that will really change peoples lives.
He must put clear water between Labour and the Tories and be more forceful and imaginative on the cost of living crisis.
For example, why not replace the current benefit system with a guaranteed income for every citizen that would allow everyone to afford eating and heating?
We are a very wealthy nation but that wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a tiny few.
Remember the old saying – if you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one.
Steve Chapman
Milton Keynes, Bucks
I never thought I would see Maggie Thatcher’s flagship Tory councils of Westminster and Wandsworth turning over to Labour. Southampton and Sunderland were important wins as well but there can be no denying Keir Starmer has his work cut out if he is to win a general election. The disaster of Corbyn in 2019 has cast a long shadow. He must continue to hammer the Tories over Partygate and the cost of living crisis as well as, importantly, setting out his vision of a fairer and more equal Britain under Labour. The public have had enough of the Tories but they need to start to see Labour as a real alternative.
Chris Randall, North London
The Tories have presided over the most ruinous decline in living standards of any developed society in modern history, but it appears some Brits don’t vote for rises in their living standards any more, they vote for a decline in them.
The Tories are systematically destroying this once great country with their cronyism, sleaze and one-rule-for-them attitude. How anyone still supports them, even at a local level, beggars belief.
D Jennings, Whitehaven, Cumbria
Well done to Keir Starmer on his success in the council elections, brought about by him steadying the ship following the disaster at the last general election.
This was made apparent with the Barnet result and the prestigious gains of the Tory flagship councils of Wandsworth and Westminster were the icing on the cake.
Bill Cook, Teignmouth, Devon
It appears some people want Keir Starmer to lay out his election manifesto so voters can see what he stands for. Don’t worry – he will as 2024 approaches.
He would be a fool to expose his
hand too early, especially given the current economic uncertainty.
He has said a Labour manifesto would have to be achievable so he is right to hold back.
Michael Elias, Carmarthen Carmarthenshire
Nothing surprised anyone about the local election results if they were paying attention. But there are two possible consequences that may follow.
Firstly, Johnson may have created a situation where Ireland unifies and becomes independent before Scotland.
Also, Labour’s Diane Abbott thinks Starmer should resign if beergate turns out to be a thing. Yet, weirdly, she didn’t think Corbyn needed to go after letting antisemitism run riot.
Amanda Baker, Edinburgh
Turnout for last Thursday’s local elections in my area was around 32%. Pathetic!
It doesn’t take a maths degree to work out that the system – along with people’s attitudes – needs change.
S Ingham Farnborough, Hants