Keir Starmer can’t beat the Tories alone – what we need is a progressive alliance of the left

Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

The Independent’s flat, and somewhat critical, views of the Labour leadership in advance of Keir Starmer’s speech today fail to recognise the urgent need for the damage of 10 years of cruel and dishonest Conservative government to be reversed. 

Starmer faces a huge, potentially overwhelming, task in exposing true government motives, complacency and incompetence in the face of the toxic cocktail of austerity, Brexit and the pandemic. The disgraceful record of successive Conservative governments provides the context for this country’s inability to manage the virus and matters a great deal.

Labour’s chances of election remain low and would be so under any leader. Starmer’s advantage is that he is, and is seen as, a man of honesty and integrity; but it won’t be enough in the face of the Tory machine and divisive Labour naysayers.

It is time for all who really care about social justice to come together. What is needed is a progressive alliance from across politics to push back against these mocking, disrespectful ministers and defeat the Conservatives at the next election. Nothing else will work. Without this the left is in danger of repeating the same old mistakes.

David Lowndes

Soberton, Hampshire

Hold your horses

I read the lead letter from Helen Watson with complete agreement, that it is disingenuous to compare seasonal flu with Covid-19 and its many mutant chums. 

Of course, many people do die with the flu, but this ghastly virus is I feel a totally different ball game and should not be downgraded in its medical significance.

I sense, feel and hope that our gung-ho prime minister is indeed concerned about releasing lockdown too soon, thus enabling this wily foe to regroup again. The vaccine rollout has been superb but it still has some way to go.

So hold your horses backbenchers and, in particular, the Covid Recovery Group and for once listen to the science and medical experts. We all want life back to a semblance of normality but not for the dire death rate to rise exponentially again. People and businesses will need further help and this should be forthcoming, because it is in the national interest to support and aid.

Judith A Daniels

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Reassurance on vaccinators

In response to the question regarding vaccinated vaccinators. I am a healthcare professional and as such we have been offered the vaccine.

The situations where a vaccinator shouldn’t be vaccinated is if they have had Covid in the past 28 days or if they are pregnant. Hope this reassures people.

Dorothy Warrington

Address supplied

Prioritise people with learning disabilities

Throughout the pandemic we have experienced first-hand the significant risk Covid-19 poses to people with learning disabilities and our colleagues who support them.

Recent data from the Office of National Statistics has shown that people with learning disabilities are 3.7 times more likely to die of Covid-19 than the general population. We believe this is mostly due to well-known healthcare inequalities.

The recent changes to the shielding criteria are not enough – learning disability and autism are still not considered factors for higher priority for vaccination.

This is simply unacceptable. It is clear that people who have a learning disability are at significant risk and need to be vaccinated urgently.

Prioritisation in the roll-out would mean peace of mind and a quicker return to normality for thousands of individuals and their families across the country, who have already experienced greater anxiety than most throughout this time. Too often during this pandemic, people with learning disabilities have been forgotten about – we cannot let this continue.

Steve Scown

Chief executive of not-for-profit support provider Dimensions

Make vaccine decliners pay for Covid care

There is no doubt that the organisation behind the vaccine roll-out in the UK to date has been impressive. It is understandable that politicians will be only too pleased to take credit. It would be appropriate for those involved behind the scenes to also be identified and thanked. The good old NHS, despite many current difficulties, will have come up trumps, and will have helped to reduce the damage caused by the government’s previous dithering and inadequate response.

It is beginning to become obvious that the vaccination program is starting to reduce ICU admissions. This must be a great relief to hard-pressed hospital workers across the board, and, considering that the daily cost of ICU care exceeds £1,300 per patient, must also reduce the financial burden of the nation.

Those who decline the vaccine for non-clinical reasons are not only personally at risk from contracting the virus and becoming ill, but also may selfishly pass it on to others. Would it not be reasonable for those who turn down their offer and subsequently become ill to make a financial contribution for their care? After all, a bored student attending an illicit gathering may have to pay a fine for their actions.

Roger Edwards

Address supplied

Well done, Boris

Well done, Boris Johnson, for not giving in to Tory backbenchers’ pressure for an early lifting of lockdown.

The vaccination programme is clearly a game changer, so it is only right that any lifting is based upon data rather than rebels in his own party.

If anything, this is an opportunity for opposition MPs to unite with Boris in putting the national interest first.

So Keir Starmer, how about you stop playing and start playing ball?

I will believe it when I see it!

Geoffrey Brooking

Havant, Hampshire