What Labour can learn from the Batley and Spen byelection | Letters theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Letters: <strong>Gerrard Raven</strong> on statues that will never be inappropriate, <strong>Toby King</strong> on democratic symbols, <strong>Ron Fraser</strong> on traffic cones, <strong>Tim Gossling</strong> on adding context, <strong>Mike Morrogh</strong> on historical evidence, <strong>Anthony Isaacs</strong> on deliberate disintegration, <strong>Michael Cunningham</strong> on four plinths for letter writers, and <strong>Austen Lynch</strong> on ordure’s usefulness
Yasmin Atuallah
Smoke billows from a fire following Israeli airstrikes on multiple targets in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Smoke billows from a fire following Israeli airstrikes on multiple targets in Gaza City on May 16, 2021. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Letters
Mon 17 May 2021 11.53 EDT
Last modified on Mon 17 May 2021 12.25 EDT
Jonathan Freedland aptly captures the Groundhog Day character of the recurrent deadly Middle East war/ceasefire cycles (Once this violence in Israel and Gaza ends, there can be no return to ‘normal’, 14 May). Israel, as the dominant and occupying force, has the capacity but not the motive to bring this to an end. Benjamin Netanyahu, who has no interest in the receding prospect of a two-state solution, is happy to accept the collateral damage to his own population as a price worth paying to maintain the status quo. If necessary, Trump-style encouragement of extreme-right thugs can usefully provoke the expected response.
Letters
Keir Starmer could be more proactive on Covid, argues
Dr Anthony Isaacs, while
Hilary Ward and
Keir Starmer speaking in the Commons. Photograph: House of Commons/PA
Keir Starmer speaking in the Commons. Photograph: House of Commons/PA
Sun 7 Feb 2021 12.57 EST
Last modified on Mon 8 Feb 2021 00.22 EST
Andy Beckett is of course right to say that Labour cannot ignore southern seats in pursuit of âred wallâ voters (If Labour is serious about regaining power, it will need to woo southern England, 5 February). In truth, both will be needed for electoral victory. A successful campaign must appeal to common interests and be carried through with conviction and passion, as Marina Hyde notes (Britons want a bit of drama from their leaders â and Keir Starmer isnât serving it, 5 February). Use of the union flag for this purpose is unlikely to be persuasive and has a dubious pedigree, as shown by Harold Wilsonâs adoption of the ill-fated Iâm Backing