Jeremy Corbyn and I have shared many of the same campaigns and causes over the past 40 years, some of which we have won and some, such as Trident, we still need to win. He has always fought with integrity and vigour and his campaign for the leadership underlines that. However, I cannot vote for him as leader, even though I can embrace most of his policy positions. My years both in and out of parliament have taught me that most British people will not vote into government a thorough-going socialist party, even if a majority of party members might will it. Jeremy has not learned that lesson. But he knows as well as I do that the people we have both served for so long desperately need a Labour government in 2020. Party members who are now looking to Jeremy for a way to assuage the misery of losing in May need to reflect on how much worse it will be to lose again in five years.
Joan Ruddock
Former Labour MP, Lewisham Deptford
• For those of us who remember the days when the hard left were attempting to take over the Labour party, the news that the Burnham and Cooper campaigns have got animated is welcome (Burnham and Cooper turn on each other, 18 August). We desperately need a passionate response to Jeremy Corbyn’s candidacy. He represents that hard left; he helped form it, has consistently organised for it and has spoken up for it. Yvette Cooper’s strength partly comes from her straight-talking and refusal to be taken in by any sentimental attachment to his utopian socialism. Burnham ought to learn from this and stop flip-flopping between staking out his own ideas and pandering to the left.
Simon Horne
London
• You refer to a JC (Jeremy Corbyn) standing for the Labour party leadership, while on your letters page another JC (Jewish Chronicle) says the first JC won’t respond to its letter. And in an article about infiltrators another JC (Jason Cobb) is barred from voting. Jesus Christ! What on earth is going on?
Arthur Gould
Loughborough, Leicestershire
