The case for Corbynism [Socialism] has never been stronger

Oct. 21, 2022

Arguments for nationalisation, fairer taxation and political reform would be well-received in the current climate, writes Jack Toker. Plus letters from Annie Hill and John Hayes

Jeremy Corbyn is right in every word he writes (A warning to Truss and Hunt: people see the chaos and unfairness – and they won’t accept it, 17 October). There is indeed a growing outrage at Tory mismanagement of the country. There has been for years, but the Tories have had a compliant media on side to skew the reality of their destructive policies. But now it is clear for all to see, no matter where their political allegiances lie. Housing, energy, water, rail and mail businesses are all failing to provide the services we need, even at basic levels, with the costs to the public rising faster than wages ever will. And without doubt, political reform is long overdue: 43.6% of the vote got the Tories 56.2% of seats in the Commons in 2019 – this is a disgrace and is hardly representative, or indeed fair.

All the issues facing the UK could have been avoided, or the impacts lessened, with a Labour government in 2017 or 2019. It is such a shame that it wasn’t to be, as we are all paying the costs now. Perhaps Corbyn was brought to the fore too soon? If he had been elected leader in 2020 instead of 2015, his arguments might have landed better with the population via more honest messaging from the media. Arguments for renationalising essential public services, for fair taxation and for proper reform of our outdated electoral system would be better received now than they have been for the last 40 years.
Jack Toker
Todmorden, West Yorkshire

 Everything Jeremy Corbyn says in this piece is spot-on. We don’t need mealy-mouthed politicians trying to placate the centre-right: we need people with a vision, who are concerned about the sort of world our young people will inherit. What a shame we don’t see a lot more people – beyond environmentalists – telling it as it is. I hope that many other people who think like Mr Corbyn will be given aplatform and the opportunity to offer a genuine alternative to the present norm.
Annie Hill
Yacht FanShi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

 I read Jeremy Corbyn’s article with interest, and as a Labour activist I agree with most of what he says. This country is in a mess. For too long, the British public have been let down, misled by successive Tory governments aided and abetted by the rightwing press and helped by the absence of an effective opposition. Why has Labour been so ineffective? I believe that the roots of much of this country’s current ills lie in the way political parties elect their leaders. Allowing members to have a major influence has led to polarisation as dogma overrides policymaking. We need to look no further than Corbyn and more recently Liz Truss to prove my point.

We elect MPs, and we should trust them to elect a leader that they believe will be best able to secure the implementation of their party’s manifesto and give them the best chance of being re-elected. Too much of our recent political discourse has been centred on the personality of the leaders, and not enough on the policies of the parties.

If David Miliband or Yvette Cooper had become Labour leader in 2015, our country’s history may well have been different, regardless of which party was in power.
John Hayes
Felpham, West Sussex

[Top photo: ‘I hope that many other people who think like Mr Corbyn will be given an opportunity to offer a genuine alternative to the present norm.’ Photograph: Hollie Adams/PA]