Labour’s plans would turn Britain into a place that punishes aspiration

SIR – The main thrust of the Labour Party’s manifesto is to tax success.

The message is that one should not study, gain qualifications, work hard and get a well-paid position. Equally, one should avoid taking risks to establish a profitable business that provides jobs.

Labour clearly regards such achievements as something to be punished.

Keith Vaughan

Great Stretton, Leicestershire

SIR – Labour claims that only the “billionaires” will be affected by its plans, but this is not correct.

Anyone who is an ordinary worker, or who has a pension, savings or property, will lose money. Investment will not be stimulated and jobs will be put at risk.

Additionally, the unions will have a free hand to reintroduce secondary picketing, holding us all to ransom and preventing people from going to work. We could end up seeing another Winter of Discontent. A Labour government would be a disaster. We cannot allow it to happen.

Dr Michael Halpin

Cambridge

SIR – From 1957 to 1962, I was an apprentice in a factory making contractors’ plant and conveying systems. The company was generally unionised, though not a closed shop, but nevertheless I joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

By the time I was 18, I had been elected as the apprentices’ representative and attended the Stockport area meetings at the union headquarters. I was quite keen to get an increase in pay for the apprentices, who worked a 44-hour week.

I was asked by the branch secretary, a communist, to go to the Young Socialists Club, which I did, once. I talked to the chairman, who told me that he “would nationalise chip shops” if he had a chance. I guess he’d be a fan of Jeremy Corbyn now.

As a married man with a mortgage, one term of Harold Wilson was enough Labour government for me. Callaghan, Blair and Brown did nothing to change my mind.

Ken Hope

Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire

SIR – Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell would be in their eighties by the time the results of their crazy transformation really hit home.

The next generation would pay dearly – not them.

Christopher Hunt

Swanley, Kent

SIR – Labour in Wales can’t run the NHS efficiently, as statistics show.

I am still waiting for the result of a finger X-ray that was taken over four weeks ago. The affected finger tip is now set at a strange incline, with swelling at the joint, so something is amiss.

For goodness’ sake, don’t let Labour get its inefficient hands on the NHS in England too.

Patricia Griffiths

Abergavenny, Monmouthshire