Letter: Less haste in search of a Labour leader

Sir: I very much hope that members of the Labour Party, including affiliated members, will exercise patience before deciding who to vote for in the leadership and deputy leadership elections. Over- personalisation and the glamour and glitz factors in the last general election lost Labour its expected victory and it will be unfortunate if early judgements are made on that basis now.

All candidates should state clearly their position on the approaches the Labour Party should make on the main issues, and until they have had the equal opportunity of doing that at the agreed starting time, judgement should be reserved.

Retired people (and they are not an inconsequential number) will be concerned to know where the candidates stand on such issues as the improvement of the retirement pension and the restoration of the link with the average earnings index. The late and much revered John Smith indicated his firm support for restoring the link not very long ago. He was a man of his word and I expect his potential successors to be equally forthright.

Yours sincerely

JACK JONES

London, SE5

29 May