Labour is falling into the same trap as the Tories

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Until our politicians grasp the nettle and admit leaving the EU was wrong, we shall continue on this downward spiral (PA)

Oh dear, I see that the Labour Party is starting to show the same symptoms of straw-clutching stupidity we have witnessed from the Tories!

Rachel Reeves has reportedly said that when in power they will commence a “buy British” campaign. She obviously missed the fact it has been tried, more than once, and was a miserable failure. I remember such sloganeering in the 1970s to much ribald laughter from my adult family members. Think Austin Allegros!

If this is an attempt to garner votes from xenophobes, then it is quite simply repugnant and, even if successful, it is not going to help with the Brexit chaos. Until our politicians grasp the nettle and admit leaving the EU was wrong, we shall continue on this downward spiral, exhausting each administration in turn.

The only British things we shall be buying in the future are humble pie and holidays to Southend-on-Sea because we cannot physically leave the country.

Robert Boston

Kingshill

Popular policies

I really find it difficult to understand Labour’s strategy. Aiming at the “wall” is fighting the last war and, in general, works against the overall strategy of occupying the centre ground.

Inveterate Tory voters are unlikely to flock to Labour’s call. The target should be the Labour core – some subjects are agreed upon by most – and, to some extent, to Lib Dem and floating voters, and possibly to One Nation Tories who can’t stomach their own party as currently configured.

More specifically, issues such as Brexit and the utilities are moving in one direction, and Starmer seems to be moving in another. I know Labour doesn’t want to be populist, but failing to court popularity stretches the point.

Cole Davis

Norwich

Taking back control

For a party that’s supposed to be tough on crime and responsible for taking back control of the country’s borders, the Tories don’t have a good record.

First, they took us out of the EU, which meant that the Dublin Agreement was no longer valid and there was no legal mechanism to reduce the numbers of foreign nationals fleeing their home countries and seeking help here.

Then they tried to make it illegal to enter this country via the “small boat” route across the Channel – a masterstroke that has now hugely increased the number of illegal immigrants in this country.

Sadly for the Tories, this has not in any way reduced the numbers coming in – another failure, like the Rwanda scheme.

Do you think either of the contenders for PM are likely to see that “getting Brexit done” in the way they have has actually made the immigration situation much worse in every respect?

Katharine Powell

Neston

Bonfire of regulations

Come back Boris, all is forgiven! A buffoon and a liar, but at least he was lazy and didn’t get things done.

Now we have the current candidates to replace him – Rishi “I like me; who do you like?” Sunak and Liz “Margaret” Truss – falling over themselves trying to appeal to the Brexiteers. The thought of a bonfire of regulations that protect the environment and workers’ rights whilst loosening restrictions on financial markets doesn’t bear thinking about.

The big losers in all this? Those who voted leave. Oh, the irony of it. As the saying goes: be careful what you wish for.

Andy Vant

Shropshire

Loss of trust

I refer to today’s editorial “Tory rhetoric on Rwanda is not what the public want”.

Boris Johnson’s successful campaign in the general election of 2019 was based on lies about “oven-ready deals” and the like. At the time, he was believed and trusted and the consequence was a landslide victory. Belief and trust have been lost and he has now evaporated like so much steam.

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It seems clear that the two remaining candidates in this forced sale are desperate to prove themselves electable to their constituency. In this case, a constituency that is both very small and unrepresentative of the electorate as a whole.

These prospective prime ministers are trumpeting conveniently fluid policies to obtain a favourable response from a selected body of voters, a body whose existence is permitted and empowered by our feudal constitution.

A general election will come, and large gains and losses are more than possible. It might be considered unwise to shout loudly in an avalanche-prone area, particularly when the noise is not what the voting public wish to hear. It is common knowledge that, when an avalanche is done, the liquid flow sets like concrete. The outcome of an inevitable general election might similarly prove the entrapment of the Tory party itself, and one with wider-reaching constitutional consequences.

David Nelmes

Newport