I read three articles in the Guardian one day last week (22 December), Pablo Iglesias showing a clear understanding of how to address issues of power in politics, Aditya Chakrabortty with a moving and inspirational article about John Burgess and his struggle against the “giant profiteers” destroying our public services. Then I read Polly Toynbee’s defeatist diatribe against Jeremy Corbyn.
The proposal by the Labour party (mocked by Toynbee) to return policymaking to the membership is not about having a series of spurious internal referendums, but using the party structures of branch, constituency, NEC and conference to develop policy. These mechanisms may have been in hibernation for a couple of decades, but with Jeremy’s help will be awoken to form the basis of a really democratic party. The sort of party the Tories can never be; that can not just challenge austerity and oppose the Tories but become a effective government.
Richard Ashwell
Wolverhampton
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
