It’s time for us to be radical

THE profoundly unequal nature of modern Britain is highlighted by John Chater (letters, May 3). The way this sad state of affairs leads inexorably to a whole range of social ills is well argued. As is the case for a wealth tax, the closing of tax loopholes and tax havens.

To some extent one expects a certain amount of inequality to exist under a Tory administration. That’s a natural consequence of Thatcherite dogma.

But what about the achievements of 13 years of New Labour from 1997 to 2010? Didn’t they do better? Chater quotes a shocking statistic from their final year in office. Inequality in the 23 most developed countries was assessed. In terms of equality the UK came 19th.

In retrospect this has to be viewed as a desperately disappointing performance. I want to believe that Starmer’s Labour is serious about addressing the issue, but all I hear is pathetic Tory-lite sound bites.

The answer is out there, but modern Labour is too timid to run with it ... frightened to upset the rich, the privileged and the woke mafia.

John Hodgkins, Seaton Sluice