John Harris rightly warns that by trying to demonstrate that Labour has ditched its Corbynite mantle and now wears the smart suit of economic prudence and financial restraint, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves risk achieving just one term in government (Thinking small may get Labour into No 10. It could also stop it staying there, 28 January). By voting for a Labour government, people will be trusting it to tackle their most pressing concerns, such as rising hospital waiting lists, crumbling schools, squalid housing, inability to access social care, and the struggle to cover the cost of even the basic requirements of daily living.
The electorate will expect perceptible improvements in these essential services within Labour’s first term in office. The trust that Starmer and Reeves seek is fragile and must be reciprocated. Therefore, in return, Starmer must trust the public and have the courage to be honest with them that in order to meet their expectations there needs to be a significant increase in the level of government spending and a fundamental reform of taxation so that those with the most contribute the most. Starmer knows this, the Labour party knows this, and the public know this. Failure to articulate this will inevitably lead to the trust that voters placed in Labour quickly evaporating.
Peter Riddle
Wirksworth, Derbyshire
