The idea that all are of equal worth and of working towards a society worthy of honouring such an ideal can be traced back further than “a reaction to capitalism, which really took off in the Industrial Revolution” (Is Starmer really a socialist and what will happen if Labour wins election?, 28 May). The English cleric John Ball’s radical sermons preaching equality and the dignity of labour at the time of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 brought him into conflict with church and crown. His memory lives on in William Morris’s story, Edward Burne-Jones’s illustration of A Dream of John Ball and in Sydney Carter’s Sing John Ball. For his pains, John Ball was condemned by Rishi II – sorry, would have been; he was of course executed by Richard II.
Austen Lynch
Garstang, Lancashire
• Tony Benn got it right when he said the Labour party wasn’t socialist but that there were members who were socialists, and sadly I would add that we are diminishing in number. That said, Keir Starmer has identified as one, which is good and interesting, though somewhat of a shock given the wholesale ditching of socialist policies, as summarised in his initial 10-point plan back when he stood for the leadership. I think the best we can now hope for is a little social democracy courtesy of Rachel Reeves, though her statements about the economy, taxes and business make the direction of travel barely social democratic. The only good news is that surely the Tories are toast, but I’m no longer at all sure what comes next. It’s certainly not socialism. I’d have to settle for social democracy. Will we get it? I’m not sure we will.
Jol Miskin
Sheffield
