I go back further than John Harris (How pop music built liberal Britain, 30 June). I attended the first Glastonbury festival in 1970. There was a crowd of about 2,000 and though I inhaled deeply, I remember seeing Quintessence, Al Stewart and Tyrannosaurus Rex perform. The idea that any mainstream politician might have appeared would have been anathema. This year from the comfort of my sofa I watched with huge pleasure as Jeremy Corbyn received ecstatic cheers from a massive crowd. This was an event of immense significance. Try to imagine a Tory politician who could have appeared on that stage. May? Hammond? Hunt? Rudd? Any of them?
The age group mainly represented at Glastonbury will be around to vote much longer than the age(d) demographic that constitutes the Tories’ strongest support. John Harris reported that Marianna, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley wrote to the Daily Telegraph furiously claiming that Corbyn’s appearance at Glastonbury was an “utter disgrace”. Great: as Ian Dury might have sung, that’s another reason to be cheerful.
Dr Chris Morris
Kidderminster, Worcestershire
• It is odd that Michael Eavis is prepared to quote Jeremy Corbyn both as wanting to abolish Trident, and as expecting to become prime minister in six months (Report, 26 June). The Labour party has a manifesto that makes its position clear, and this can be quoted whenever the leader and his supporters want to put their own ideas forward, which they are entitled to do.
But the idea of Corbyn becoming PM in six months is taking on a life of its own, and even good comrades now think this is possible. Not while the Tory party has a deal with the DUP, and probably not if the current plan collapses. Labour hung on under Callaghan for several years in the 1970s, and only went to the country when they were legally forced to. The idea that the Tories will give a general election Corbyn could win is indeed fantastic. Sadly, it is unlikely that is the meaning that Eavis had in mind when he used it. We have a long way to go with Theresa May in charge, so let’s prepare for a long war.
Trevor Fisher
Stafford
• I noted with interest the vocal support for Jeremy Corbyn expressed by youthful passengers on a train at Worthing station (There’s something in the air, letter from Bill Geddes, 28 June). It will be fascinating to see if football fans in England take up the chant “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn!” I’ve watched football from the terraces for a couple of decades but have never been aware of supporters expressing their political views. Following his success at Glastonbury, will Corbyn’s name be noisily proclaimed in stadiums across the nation when the new season commences on 5 August?
Alistair Budd
Sutton at Hone, Kent
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