The press already claims Labour’s policies will bankrupt the country (Report, 11 May). But Germany, a rich and thriving economy, arguably more prosperous than Britain, has a railway that is run by a state-owned company (Deutsche Bahn) and as of 2014 universities no longer charge tuition fees for undergraduate courses. Have these bankrupted Germany?
Linda Buchanan
Nantwich, Cheshire
• The main problem with the minimum wage (Editorial, 11 May) is those impoverished by it. When introduced to help those at the bottom it applied to 1 in 50; by 2015 this had become 1 in 20 and it is predicted by 2020 it will be 1 in 9. Well intended legislation must always be safeguarded against capitalist greed.
Ron Kipps
Dartford, Kent
• Aditya Chakrabortty’s analysis of Labour’s election prospects in Wales (9 May) concentrates on where Welsh Labour lost council seats in some of its heartland areas and excused themselves by blaming “the Corbyn effect”. However, Labour held on well in those areas visited by Corbyn – major cities such as Swansea, Cardiff and Newport. Even more curiously Labour lost seats in areas with prominent anti-Corbyn factions, so Labour lost control of Bridgend as well as seats in Neath Port-Talbot where, for the first time ever, Labour lost council seats in the Aberavon constituency to Plaid Cymru.
Sean Goodsir-Cullen
Neath, West Glamorgan
• What we need is a political mantra to remind us of past Tory achievements and future prospects (Stuck on repeat, 11 May). Could “Poll tax, bedroom tax, more tax” be a contender?
Dr Kenneth Macaulay
Dunfermline, Fife
• Jeremy Corbyn in York: “Labour won’t pass by on the other side” – 10 beats (Letters, passim). He must read the Letters page.
Harold Mozley
York
• Labour has come up with a Labour manifesto. What’s not to like?
Peter Nicklin
Newcastle upon Tyne
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