Letter: How Labour could widen political choice in Britain

Sir: Tribune editor Mark Seddon is living in Cloud-cuckoo-land ('Turn left for the people's election', 2 June). He says that 'Public opinion is moving sharply left . . .' but he gives no evidence to support this assertion. He encourages Labour to avoid bland 'broad-brush statements', while wheeling out creaky old slogans such as 'redistribution of wealth' and 'public control of the utilities'. He looks for a new, more radical Labour vision, while harking back mawkishly to the Wilson era. How ironic.

Our population is getting older and living longer, demanding more and more state funds for health and pensions. Does he really think that taxing the rich will pay for this? And what of the costs of bringing the privatised utilities back under state control?

Yes we need specifics Mr Seddon, specifics from the Labour left as to how they would put their ossified slogans into action without bankrupting the country in the process.

Yours faithfully,

MATTHEW WALL

London, N4