My local Suffolk Labour hero

Eddie is so succinct:

In setting the scene for your editorial on Labour (7 November) you perpetuate a narrow assessment of the Corbyn phenomenon: “Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership campaign energised enthusiastic young supporters with the promise of a new type of politics.” In truth, also “energised” was a wide range of people of all ages, members and ex-members, non-members, supporters and ex-supporters (unregistered), all despairing of what the party had become under Tony Blair, crucially over Iraq.

A band of malcontents in the parliamentary Labour party, notably those who refused to serve under Corbyn and who abstained on the tax-credits vote, have a hatred of Corbyn that trumps defence of some of the poorest working people, and they should be ashamed of themselves. But these “moderates” are feted and their apocalyptic electoral predictions enthusiastically aired.

The editorial goes on to tread a well-worn path: “Now that the novelty has worn off, another decent performance at prime minister’s questions – which Mr Corbyn again managed this week – cannot compete for media attention with tales of fear and loathing.”

Of course it can’t when you and the bulk of the news media are ensuring the propagation of stories in line with your own predilections.
Eddie Dougall
Walsham le Willows, Suffolk

 http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/09/labour-moderates-are-merely-malcontents