The Greek people have spoken but will anyone listen? After controlling our lives for the past 35 years the money markets now blame austerity on the poorest and most vulnerable and will be doing their utmost to upstage Syriza’s honeymoon. We need an urgent debate which goes beyond the election of one government. That is, how can elected politicians and the people take back control from themarkets and the super-rich? This is now the burning question of our age.
Alan Dazely
Horsham, West Sussex
• In her new book, Austerity: The Demolition of the Welfare State and the Rise of the Zombie Economy, Kerry-anne Mendoza, the one-time senior banker and management consultant, puts it succinctly: “Austerity is not a short-term disruption to balance the books. It is the demolition of the welfare state – transferring the UK from social democracy to corporate power.” If Labour cannot see that then we need our own anti-austerity coalition to Labour’s left.
John Airs
Liverpool
• How is it that when David Cameron refuses to pay British dues to the EU, proposes to renegotiate our membership and promises a referendum for withdrawal, that is fine, but when a potential Greek prime minister makes similar promises, he is a “leftwing militant radical” threatening the EU and European civilisation?
Lee Challenor-Chadwick
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
• Since it’s clear austerity does not apply to all and the people of Greece are leading the way in rejecting it, isn’t it time other countries, including ours, sent a clear message to our politicians that we really are not “all in this together” and that it’s time for a rethink on the fundamental parameters around which our society is based?
Tim Yates
Twickenha, Middlesex
• Syriza’s victory has undermined Mr Blair’s recent claim that electoral victories can only be won from the centre and thoroughly annoyed the ruling elites of Europe. Small victories those may be, but still ones worth celebrating.
Keith Flett
London
• Surely the solution to the Greek problem is for the rest of Europe now to form a coalition of the unwilling.
Roger Greatorex
London
