Andy Beckett is of course right to say that Labour cannot ignore southern seats in pursuit of “red wall” voters (If Labour is serious about regaining power, it will need to woo southern England, 5 February). In truth, both will be needed for electoral victory. A successful campaign must appeal to common interests and be carried through with conviction and passion, as Marina Hyde notes (Britons want a bit of drama from their leaders – and Keir Starmer isn’t serving it, 5 February). Use of the union flag for this purpose is unlikely to be persuasive and has a dubious pedigree, as shown by Harold Wilson’s adoption of the ill-fated I’m Backing Britain campaign in 1968. By contrast, northern and southern voters have a shared interest in strengthening public services, and this should be the unifying principle of Labour’s programme.
While Keir Starmer is not the most demonstrative politician, a more proactive approach to the Covid-19 crisis would enable him to project convincing leadership. A high-level committee with representation from other opposition parties, supported by appropriate professional expertise, could review current developments and set the pace in issuing authoritative guidance via a regular press conference, eg on border controls and emerging safely from lockdown. This would circumvent the Captain Hindsight accusation and leave a dithering government to play catch-up.
Dr Anthony Isaacs
London
• Marina Hyde’s point about Labour needing to fulfil a need for drama is well made. But what drama should they create? I think developing policies across all issues could start from the dichotomy between health and the economy that has dominated Covid policy in the UK. The drama lies in stressing, much more than Labour has, that it is a false one. The argument is that a healthy economy depends on a healthy population and that a healthy economy/society is itself defined by its provision of means by which this can be achieved.
The drama then switches to an agenda that seems pretty clear to me: integrate social care in the NHS; protect the NHS for eternity; enhance the Health and Safety Executive to ensure safe workplaces; tackle pollution and climate change; ensure good work-life balance and opportunities for recovery from work stresses and ill health; foster good leisure, travel and arts; encourage exercise and quality food; ensure enrichment and innovation through employee and public involvement and the fusion of cultures; and create safe borders.
Prof Stephen Wood
London
• Marina Hyde says what we want in a political leader is a “bit of drama”. Presumably it was in a similar spirit that the American electorate voted for Donald Trump in 2016? Keir Starmer’s calmness and competence may be underestimated while we are all feeling bored. By 2024, though, we will surely be ready for a serious politician in 10 Downing Street, even if – like Joe Biden – he does not have such a flamboyant personality as his predecessor.
Hilary Ward
Ormskirk, Lancashire
• There is a lot to be said for being undramatic in these troubled times. Clement Attlee was undramatic compared to Winston Churchill, but it was Attlee’s government that steered this country out of the postwar chaos and introduced the NHS, decent housing, and all the other benefits of a welfare state which was the envy of the world, and which every successive Conservative government has tried to dismantle.
Bob Ross
London
