Editorial Comment
SIR – Labour suffered electoral catastrophe at Copeland. A once great party has became totally disconnected from its core voters.
The Labour leader has previously shown support for the IRA and Hamas, opposes the British military, is antiAmerican and seemingly republican. His party is obsessed with race, diversity, human rights, LGBT and feminism, in the manner of a students’ union. Its leadership, rooted in the past, lacks the intellectual firepower to take on the really big issues of the NHS, Brexit, social care and a postindustrial economy.
The capture of many local parties by Momentum will mean a drift towards extreme views. This is combined with a hostility to anyone not supporting such views. To question them is to be called racist, homophobic Tory scum.
The average voter is disgusted and quietly angered by all this and has come to the view that Labour has lost the plot. There’s no sign of a way back. Martyn Thomas London SE27 SIR – The Government’s official opposition, the BBC, before the by-elections, deluged the public with a nightly drama-documentary on the NHS masquerading as news, but being little more than biased opinion.
Following the failure of Labour to hold Copeland, will the BBC return its focus to easy targets such as Donald Trump and the British weather? Robin Waite Bridport, Dorset
SIR – Labour politicians are deluding themselves. John McDonnell said yesterday that Labour defeated Ukip at Stoke. I would suggest that Ukip lost Stoke – by its own actions and the saga of Paul Nuttall and Hillsborough.
Were I a Labour MP with a small majority, I’d be seriously worried. Charles Penfold Ulverston, Cumbria
SIR – Given that the whole reason for the existence of Ukip has been achieved by the result of the EU referendum, disaffected Tory voters
SIR – Jeremy Warner (Comment, February 24) suggests that Theresa May is afraid to introduce radical change to the NHS for fear of diminishing the enormous political power she currently enjoys.
But she has already shown courage and, for a principled person, there is little point in power unless it’s used to change Britain for the better. This not only means a compulsory system of social insurance and a level of privatisation for an NHS and care system that will never have enough taxpayers’ money thrown at it, but it should also mean privatising state schools, along with a voucher system.
Brexit and the public support demonstrated at Copeland present Mrs May with an opportunity to effect much-needed change. Carpe diem. Tim Coles Carlton, Bedfordshire