Unconvincing candidates to restore the standing of the Opposition
SIR – The BBC has shown us five women and one man who are frontrunners to be the new Labour Party leader – Lisa Nandy, Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-bailey, Angela Rayner, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry.
I think back to Harold Wilson, Richard Crossman, Anthony Crosland, Barbara Castle, Denis Healey, Patrick Gordon Walker and Shirley Williams.
Is it my imagination or were they far more substantial characters than any of the present bunch?
John Wallbridge
Wolverhampton
SIR – Lisa Nandy, a candidate for the Labour leadership, whom you profiled yesterday, is the sort of politician (of whatever political affiliation) that the country does not need.
She studied politics at university and entered local government, rising through the ranks. As such, she has only had wealth-distribution jobs, and never wealth-creation jobs.
Sadly, there are many other MPS with this myopic background. It should be a legal requirement for all MPS to have had a significant period in wealth-creating jobs if we wish to prosper in the global economy.
Alan Belk
Leatherhead, Surrey
SIR – I am reminded by Caroline Flint’s spat with Emily Thornberry of the story of the new MP being shown round the House. Looking across to the other side, he remarked: “So that’s the enemy.” His colleague replied: “No, that’s the Opposition – your enemies are on this side of the House.”
Chris Whitty
Guildford, Surrey
SIR – Brexit was undoubtedly the dominant issue in the election. But did Sedgefield, for example, become more prosperous while Tony Blair and his constituency successor were MPS?
Simon Mcilroy
Croydon, Surrey
SIR – Jeremy Corbyn has nothing to apologise to the people for. He stood up for beliefs he has held all his life in politics. He did not hide any of his intentions for nationalisation or tax.
Those who should be apologising are the Labour Party members who voted him in as leader knowing his Marxist views, which the people of this country could never swallow.
Tom Wall
Nottingham
SIR – The demise of the Labour Party is explained, first, by Ed Miliband’s foolish decision to allow election of the leader by the membership.
Secondly came the apathy of Labour activists in allowing Momentum to sign up a majority of those members. The result was an extreme far-left leadership.
Kevin Platt
Walsall, Staffordshire
SIR – Socialism ends up either as failure or tyranny. Thank goodness ours was only failure.
Ronald Burton
Chigwell, Essex