Labour must avoid factionalism at all costs

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Diversity in the Labour Party, with some discordant voices, is healthy (AFP/Getty)

Angela Rayner is right that diversity in the Labour Party, with some discordant voices, is healthy – as long as it can agree to disagree without a cataclysmic fallout. The Conservative Party has become so deeply factionalised and that must be avoided at all costs, as it is so counter-productive.

Yes, she and Starmer are different types of politicians, but both want the same thing, which is a Labour government. Personally, for me, that is all that matters.

But I would mention that when asked about alleviating our economic gloom, the mantra “We will scrap the UK’s non-dom tax status” is beginning to sound like a stuck record. I would imagine the public are shouting back “Yes we get it, but let’s have some more fiscal policies as well”.

Judith A Daniels

Address supplied

My sight is too precious to risk on the NHS

I was depressed to read that NHS ophthalmic services have deteriorated even further. As a glaucoma patient, I had expected to have my appointments at the regular intervals recommended. But clinics were cancelled, and no new appointments scheduled, and I was eventually discharged as a patient by the outpatient clinic. I was not advised of this for months.

So, I have chosen private care. My sight is too precious to risk further. I appreciate that I am one of the lucky ones, and can pay to see my fantastic consultant.

The really sad thing is that this is not recent. I gave up on NHS services several years ago. It is shameful that so many more people’s sight is being left untreated.

Marilyn Timney

Address supplied

Immigrants are vital to our health services

Were it not for immigrants, the NHS would be in an even worse state than it is now.

If immigrant health workers are not allowed to bring their families with them, they will go elsewhere – perhaps they’ll join the British doctors who are leaving for Australia.

I can only infer that wealthy right-wing senior Tories have the destruction of the NHS as their intention.

Susan Alexander

South Gloucestershire

Ed Balls and Gareth Gates are doing important work for those who stammer

Your recent article “Ed Balls praised after tearful interview with Gareth Gates about their stammers” was very touching to this stammerer. I am sure it resonated with most stammerers and their family members.

We live in a different era in that two famous stammerers discussed their hardship with the speech issue on national television. Forty years ago, famous stammerers would not have had a forum like this one. Balls’ heartfelt praise of Gareth Gates certainly will serve to inspire countless people who stammer of all ages.

We need more famous stammerers in the spotlight. The Stuttering Foundation website has many biographical articles on famous British stammerers that are inspirational.

Gareth Gates is one. Some others are Noel Gallagher, Rowan Atkinson, Philip Larkin, Lewis Carroll, Charles Darwin, and many others.

Michael Culhane

Liverpool