YP Letters: Will Labour keep faith with Corbyn?

I AM becoming extremely tired of the Press and other parts of the establishment attacking and attempting to discredit Jeremy Corbyn. Your recent Editorial on him (The Yorkshire Post, February 25) was a perfect example of this. It seems today anyone who doesnot display an upper middle-class image is not to be taken seriously.

Immediately after the Second World War, the British people had no difficulty in rejecting Winston Churchill and choosing Clement Attlee, who was in no way a “personality”, yet during his premiership we saw the birth of the NHS, the nationalisation of coal, steel and railways and a society that looked after its weaker and more needful members. I would argue strongly that he was without doubt the best peacetime Prime Minister this country has ever had.

At a personal level, in the 1960s, I was an active member of the Labour Party and served as chair of a very large Manchester constituency.

Initially I welcomed Tony Blair becoming leader of the party but, after some two years, I threw my membership card into the dustbin. Under his leadership, I saw the Labour Party gradually become a sort of Lib Dem party part two. Over many years, his influence led to the election of a large number of MPs who seemed to have no concept of socialism.

When Jeremy Corbyn was elected, I immediately rejoined the party in my new home in Yorkshire and clearly a great number of Labour supporters joined. I really thought we were on a roll but unfortunately most of the media and the “Blairite” Labour MPs are determined to fight the return of the party to a socialist programme.

I have a great deal of faith in Corbyn and I think a considerable number of these right-wing Labour MPs may face the prospect of de-selection in the not too distant future. True Labour party members are not dangerous Communists, but honest supporters who want to change a society which only seems to support the very rich.

From: Terry Palmer, South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley.

HOW sad that the once great Labour Party that always represented the working classes is now in total denial (The Yorkshire Post, February 25).

When will the powers-that-be begin to see and believe that they are going nowhere?

As your Editorial said, it is time to find and elect a real leader with at least a smouldering of fire in their belly, not people like Ed and David Miliband, Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson and the like who have just about ruined ‘their’ party and have not one iota of an idea how we, especially in the North, think, live or do.

From: Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley.

WHEN Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was asked who was to blame for the loss in the Copeland by-election and the struggle in Stoke Central, his answer was as simple as A B C – Anybody But Corbyn. They cannot go wrong!

From: Nigel Bywater, Oak Grove, Morley, Leeds.

THE Stoke Central and Copeland by-elections tell us that our electoral system is in a dire state. While we have the NHS missing targets and patients waiting in corridors for beds, the governing party won a seat from Labour.

Labour is in serious decline, only a few years ago people talked about the two main parties and a voting system which favours a two horse race. The main topic in the news is Brexit, and the poorly performing NHS, prisons, net immigration targets missed and adult social care are sidelined.

In the last five parliamentary by-elections the Liberal Democrats have gained votes, but their message is pro-EU and anti-Brexit. They have done very well with that message, but only time will tell how we will fare with Theresa May leading us out of the EU.

It is likely that there will be another by-election in the near future. Surely another defeat would mean the end of Jeremy Corbyn?

From: Brian Taylor, Moor Park Drive, Leeds.

PERHAPS if our politicians and leaders began to use the crystal ball they already have – let’s call it common sense or thinking things through – things might change. politicians of all colours would say that maintaining and improving the NHS is a priority.

If this is so, then working together in a less adversarial manner would achieve a better outcome. Perhaps I am asking too much? I will have to check by gazing into my crystal ball.

Just switch off the trolls

From: George Jardine, Mount Parade, York.

LIKE Tom Richmond (The Yorkshire Post, February 25), I have little time for Diane Abbott. I believe she is a hypocritical grandstander. Like your columnist, I agree that no one should be subjected to abuse on social media.

However, to coin a phrase, “he who lives by the tweet shall die by the tweet”. If Ms Abbott wants to stop the abuse then the solution is simple – stop using the damned thing!

If everybody who complains about social media trolls were to switch it off for a month, the fall in advertising revenue would motivate providers to quickly introduce filters to stop abusive communication.

It wouldn’t be difficult. If the filter picks up a key word, it doesn’t get past the saddo’s outbox.

Such trolls are not very bright – just nastily impulsive – it’s doubtful they would have the intelligence to work out a way round the blocker – more likely they would stop and go back to watching EastEnders!

It will never happen though because people like Ms Abbott and the other “twitteratti” can’t seem to live without it.

And journalists would lose 
an opportunity to whinge on about “ain’t it an awful world we live in”.

Me? I have never had an abusive message on Facebook or Twitter in my life. Why? I’m sure you know the answer!