Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Is your spiritual home sturdy? Reader comments on Farage, Corbyn and Starmer
Brian Dooley (MetroTalk, Wed) thinks Jeremy Corbyn’s new political party should be the spiritual home of Labour supporters because Sir Keir Starmer has abandoned core Labour values.
If only! Starmer ran to be Labour leader on left-of-centre policies and then understandably abandoned them to win last year’s general election.
Then, inexplicably, he forgot why he had won and reverted to comfort-zone, left-of-centre policies that plunged the government into a serious poll dive that shows no sign of being reversed.
Immigration control, law and order, economic growth, NHS reform… policies very popular with the electorate have all collapsed in less than a year.
Instead, out-of-touch, left-of-centre backbenchers bully the prime minister to maintain a bloated welfare state that is a magnet for migrants. No wonder Nigel Farage is so popular.
Brian, the present Labour Party is indeed your spiritual home… until it is swept away in a few years’ time – something that has happened in practically every country in Europe. Chris Shepherd, London
Left-wing and centre-left vote to be split four ways?
I couldn’t agree more with James Freeman (MetroTalk, Tue) that if Labour were to offer any sort of concession to the left wing of the party then Corbyn’s party wouldn’t have as much momentum.
To reduce the threat posed by Reform UK, we also need proportional representation (PR). Under first past the post (FPTP), there is a danger the left-wing and centre-left vote will be split between Labour, the Lib Dems, the Greens and Corbyn’s party, while the right-wing vote is largely united behind Reform UK.
Reform could win an overall majority with just 30 per cent of the popular vote under FPTP – but this could not happen under PR. Alan Yearsley, Sheffield
Anti-immigrant, anti-immigration or pro-borders? Reader debates
Some politicians and pro-immigration activists call their opponents ‘anti-immigrant’ protesters.
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Maybe the protesters are not so much opposing immigrants – maybe they are opposing the government policies that have encouraged mass immigration? So, why not call them anti-immigration protesters?
Or again, perhaps it would be more accurate to call them pro-borders protesters? Some of the pro-immigration activists carry banners calling for ‘No borders, no nations’. Will Podmore, London
‘Trying to nail down jelly’, reader talks wealth tax
Rob Slater (MetroTalk, Tue) asks why chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out introducing a wealth tax.
The answer is simple – it’s impossible to administer, as other countries have found.
How do you put a value on works of art, fine wines, vintage cars, property or companies owned by individuals, to give just a few examples? What’s to stop people who live here moving their assets to another country? How many civil servants would you need to assess values – if indeed you could?
How many court cases would be brought by those who feel their assets have been overvalued? It’s like trying to nail down jelly.
The big mistake this government made was in promising not to increase those taxes that make up two-thirds of the total tax income – income tax, national insurance and VAT.
If we don’t want to pay more tax then we have to expect cuts to public services. It’s as simple as that. John Daniels, Redhill
Reader says Reform can’t solve emigration when the party includes many ex-Tories responsible for mass migration?
In her analysis of the causes of mass immigration, Helen (MetroTalk, Tue) ignores the fact large numbers of migrants don’t come from countries with war or disaster but the EU and India etc.
She glossed over the fact many who do come from problem countries go through safe countries to get here.
Helen ignored the impact on the country of over-population (in the 1970s people were urged to stop having children as the then much smaller population was considered unsustainable). She also ignored the fact not only are we becoming ‘an island of strangers’ – in the words of Starmer, albeit words he now regrets – but of enemies as per the under-reported conflict between Muslims and Hindus.
Helen is right about the terrible conditions driving some to emigrate but as to Reform claiming to being the solution, the party contains many ex-Tories responsible for much of the mass migration.
Reform is in favour of increasing the wealth disparity between rich and poor, probably increasing the drive for immigration. Mark, via email
At what age can you be rugby tackled to the floor for breaking the law?
The other night I watched two teenagers walk out of my local superstore with a rucksack full of shopping they had not paid for.
The security guard tried to stop them but they just casually walked past him. He told me they did it all the time because they know he can’t touch them.
If the government considers them old enough to vote then surely they are of the age where they can be rugby-tackled to the floor for breaking the law. Gareth, London
Reader suggests substance testing for those on benefits with mental health issues
Why doesn’t the Department for Work and Pensions introduce drug and alcohol testing for those who receive benefits and claim to have mental health issues?
Very often I see people on the street smoking marijuana or with a can of beer. It’s easy to see what kind of state they are in and it’s very dangerous.
These individuals should be receiving medical care and food, travel and rent vouchers, not money or benefits. If they refuse, they should be disqualified and prosecuted. Val, Broxbourne
