The state of Britain’s political parties offers little inspiration for voters
SIR – I felt utterly disfranchised on Thursday. I hadn’t had a single contact from any of the local election candidates, or any of the parties.
In the polling booth I was confronted with a choice of a Tory candidate, a Ukip candidate or a Labour candidate – no Liberal Democrat and no Green. I couldn’t bring myself to vote for a party which seems to be drifting towards Jacob Rees-Mogg and John Redwood, nor for a party which is isolationist and runs through leaders at a rate of knots, nor for a party which seems to be a front for the far-Left and refuses to root out anti-Semitism.
I ended up scrawling “None of the above” on the form. Our democratic system needs radical reform.
Andrew Papworth
Billericay, Essex
SIR – Zoe Strimpel’s column (Features, April 29) on “Corbyn’s dystopia” reawakened some old memories.
I visited Communist East Germany and East Berlin in the late Seventies – at about the same time as Jeremy Corbyn and his then girlfriend Diane Abbott (albeit not on a motorbike). Having been brought up in a very Left-wing household – both of my parents were members of the Communist Party of Great Britain – I was shocked by what I saw.
It was impossible not to notice the stark contrast between the freedom, happiness and prosperity of those in West Germany and the fear, misery and poverty of those in the East. This was an epiphany for me and led to an immediate change in my political views.
Given that Mr Corbyn and Ms Abbott must have seen what I saw, I find it incomprehensible that they did not moderate their views in the slightest. The only explanation is that they sincerely believed that it was preferable to live under the yoke of a totalitarian regime than to live in a democratic country.
Mr Corbyn is often portrayed as a principled and kindly soul who only wants the best for everyone. My conclusion is that he is a dangerous man who would be only too happy to let the extremist thugs surrounding him realise his vision for Britain – a return to Eastern Bloc communism.
Paul Cornish
Leeds, West Yorkshire
SIR – Among lifelong Conservative supporters, there were those of us who hoped that the EU referendum would put an end to the infighting that has plagued the party since Maastricht.
The ineptitude shown by the prime ministers since – David Cameron and Theresa May, along with their Cabinets – has dashed any such hopes. To be dithering on basic issues nearly two years after the referendum suggests a total lack of strategy.
If Brexit has not been delivered to the satisfaction of Tory Leavers before the next election, who will they vote for? Ukip is no longer an option, but will these people support the Conservatives again? I doubt it.
Rupert Godfrey
Devizes, Wiltshire