The local elections show that a Labour government remains an unappealing prospect

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The UK is now in a situation where a party no one wants is challenged by a party with no ideas (PA)

The key takeaway from the recent local elections is that less than half of the gains in council seats were made by the Labour Party. The Greens and Lib Dems taken together gained more.

Though we can all agree that the Conservatives did disastrously, there is no clear desire to have a Labour government instead. This is hardly surprising. The party does no more than parade the fact that Jeremy Corbyn is no longer leader, much as Neil Kinnock used to highlight the fact that his party had been purged of Bennism. A negative campaign, even one sharpened by unpleasant attacks on Sunak “not putting away sex offenders”, does not win elections.

The UK is now in a situation where a party no one wants is challenged by a party with no ideas. There is therefore a great opportunity for other parties to win a significant portion of the vote in the next general election and bring about a multiparty system which will generate more effective policies.

Dr Mark Corner

Brussels

Spend more on the NHS and not ceremonies

This morning I looked down from the balcony of the apartment we are staying at in Seville and saw a guy lying on the pavement with a crutch at his side. An older man talking to him then proceeded to take out his phone and make a call. Clearly it wasn’t an emergency, but when I looked out 20 minutes later the person who had been on the floor was being driven away in an ambulance.

When I looked at the headlines of the UK papers for the day on the BBC website, all proclaiming the coming coronation, I just wondered how a government that can happily sanction the spending of somewhere north of £250m can also preside over the decline of our health service through lack of funding.

In contrast to what I watched in Spain, stroke and heart attack cases can end up waiting hours for medical care to arrive. Something needs to change.

Steve L

Seville

The people have spoken: enough is enough

The results of the local elections tell us one simple fact: the electorate have had enough of a Conservative government that has massively reduced our standing and influence in the world, made most of us poorer and is unable to provide any vision or policies to rectify the mess they have made of the country.

The logical conclusion should be that a government with a devalued mandate calls a general election and allows others to lead in its stead. This, of course, will not happen. Instead, we must tread water for another 18 months or so.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

Lawn care is self-care

Another sign of spring’s arrival is a piece on lawns by Tom Peck. Specifically, on his lawn. And for myself it’s as welcome as the real thing.

Hoorah for Sven.

Mark Ogilvie

Horncastle

One rule for them ...

How interesting to see some Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested by police on coronation day. Yet on many other occasions they have been free to cause serious disruption, while police just allow it?

One rule for some, and another for the rest of us, it seems!

Susan Tompkins

Surrey