As the long-serving secretary of Fortis Green, a neighbouring Labour party ward to Linda Grant’s (‘That’s me on the soapbox’, 16 June), I can attest to the resurrection of our branch from nigh on moribund to a lively, large and enthusiastic bunch of activists. She is right that the stuffing had been knocked out of the party after the Iraq war, and anti-Blair sentiments were still strongly voiced on the doorsteps in 2015, but it is worth noting that not only did many Labour voters desert to the Liberal Democrats believing that they were to the left of Labour but more recently the Greens have been snapping at Labour’s heels – especially in the local elections, where they came second in some wards.
The major reason for the sudden surge in Labour membership and support has been the shock that the Lib Dems supported so many unpopular Conservative policies. But also hope had been restored that there would be a return to Labour values with Ed Miliband and our candidate, Catherine West, who won with a huge majority.
Linda correctly observes that these western wards of Hornsey and Wood Green are well-heeled middle-class areas. Having lived here for 39 years, I do not think these voters can be described as not having aspirations for themselves and their children. I fear then that the recent appeal to those with “aspirations” would be counterproductive in this area and would destroy much of the new-found vigour and enthusiasm of our activists.
Sue Vosper
London
• Linda Grant’s piece is a fascinating account of local Labour politics in my area of north London. But with one major flaw. Local councillor and “rising star” Jason Arthur is credited with responsibility for the “future of the town hall”. But just this week he was involved in a cabinet decision to sell off Hornsey town hall (home to a vibrant creative community and a focal point of the recent Crouch End arts festival). The council claims that bidders for the incredible art deco building must guarantee community access and use, but then they define that community use as “an open front door policy”.
At this rate his party’s popularity will not last long. Hundreds of local people, including Labour members and voters, and our newly elected MP, Catherine West, are feeling shortchanged by the council’s haste. If the campaign to save the town hall takes off as I think it might, the degree of community activism it generates will knock Linda Grant’s experience into a cocked hat. Here’s hoping.
Chris Reed
London
•The description of a low-membership, unrepresentative, disorganised local party a few miles from the former Labour leader’s home, as found in 2010, speaks volumes about the gap between that party and the people. Linda Grant’s inspiring activism and improvement of that shameful situation deserves close study by all the political parties as they seek power over our lives. That ultimately she did not stand as an MP herself suggests that the alienation between our politicians and citizens is likely to persist.
Peter Jenkins
Cardiff
• As the father of a young man with autism and severe learning disabilities living in Crouch End, Linda Grant’s tale of the triumph of the local Labour party leaves me cold. Within 12 months of their election on a pledge to resist austerity, our Labour councillors voted unanimously in favour of a three-year budget that will reduce spending on adult social care by 30% and close three out of four remaining day centres, including the only dedicated autism service in the borough.
Since the election, we have a Labour MP, the Labour leader of the council has received an OBE, and the council is moving rapidly ahead with plans to hive off services to privatised “spin-outs”. Yet a recent Care Quality Commission report revealed that more than 500 people with dementia, mental illness, physical and learning disabilities were “at significant risk of receiving inappropriate or unsafe care” at the hands of Haringey’s major private social care provider. What is the point of electing Labour representatives if they are incapable of standing up for the interests of the most vulnerable in society?
Michael Fitzpatrick
Save Autism Services Haringey
• With the honourable exception of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader candidates seem to have forgotten that it is supposed to be the party of working people, public service and a fair society (Labour candidates clash in first TV hustings, 18 June). Maybe it’s my problem for having been inspired all my life by the vision, ability and achievements of the Labour party of Attlee and Bevan but I found Wednesday night’s TV panel and performance uninspiring and unconvincing.
David Bishop
Nantwich
• Rafael Behr (Opinion, 17 June) characterises the placement of Jeremy Corbyn on the Labour ballot paper for leader as “bizarre”, and giving members “the option of 1980s-style retro-socialism”. Yet for me, and I know for many, many other Labour voters, Corbyn’s policies are exactly what we have been looking for – disenfranchised as we have felt in the long years of New Labour and its heirs. They are the policies that were embraced in Scotland by an overwhelming majority of the people, and I feel sure that there are also huge numbers of people in the rest of the UK who are totally turned off by politics and the policies on offer, who can relate to what he stands for. I, for one, feel genuinely hopeful that we could get back a Labour party we can honestly support.
Jo Tasker
Tenby, Pembrokeshire’
• Karen Barratt (Letters, 17 June) can vote for Jeremy Corbyn by registering as a Labour party supporter for £3. He is a passionate, sincere, articulate politician who cares about inequality, the NHS and the environment. Who could ask for more? Voters concerned that his principles might be incompatible with a strong economy should consider the views of Nobel prizewinning economist Joseph Stiglitz on the damage caused to the market economy by inequality (Observer, 24 May). Tories planning to become supporters to vote in Jeremy Corbyn and thereby “consign the party to electoral oblivion”, as Toby Young has done, might inadvertently help instead to change the country for the better.
Dr Helen Holt
Bournemouth
• Karen Barratt may want a hopelessly unelectable leftwing leader for the Labour party. I’d rather have someone electable so that we do not have a Tory hegemony for the next 30 years.
Gordon Pembury
Chippenham, Wiltshire
• Following Linda Grant’s marvellous piece, can the Guardian now start selling a “despised metropolitan elite” T-shirt for those of us living in north London.
Anthony Tasgal
London
