Starmer`s flagwaving

Your editorial is right to say that Starmer is yet "to highlight the social inequalities which have grown under a decade of Tory cuts" (Labour needs a story to say why it is better for Britain than the Tories, 01/02/21). He does, however, have an "alternative plan", the one which helped him win the leadership contest. The trouble is that the Labour leader is clearly reluctant to repeat his promise to uphold the 10 pledges for fear of being branded by the media as a "radical extremist" or "another Corbyn"/ The pledges range from "economic justice", with the rich paying more tax, and investment in public services, to a Green New Deal and strengthening workers` rights, and would certainly provide a platform for "building back better". What voters must be told repeatedly is how a hugly underfunded NHS, and a government more committed to ideological cost-cutting than providing security for the population, as shown by its failure to take the necessary measures after Operation Cygnus in 2016, facilitated the spread of Covid-19. As Rafael Behr said, the pandemic has revealed the "penalty we all pay for neglect of public health infrastructure" (The pandemic has made the case for social democracy, 27/01/21). Failure to go on the offensive now risks the danger of Tories getting away with their incompetence, and receiving undeserved praise for a vaccination programme organised by the NHS. What is the point of Labour ending up with centrist policies which will change little, and will furthermore look barely dissimilar from many Johnson will espouse in order to stay in power? The plan exists, but failure to admit ownership of it will cost Labour dear! A political party which is keen to "communicate respect and commitment for the country" should not have to resort to "the use of the flag, veterans and dressing smartly" (Revealed: strategy for Labour to win back red wall, 03/02/21). What it requires are policies, based on justice and fairness, that reveal genuine concern for all of the people, and a leader with the confidence and courage to espouse them. What most certainly are not needed are party political broadcasts which are only noticeably different from those of the Tory party because they use the term "cronyism at Westminster" once! With Johnson capable of adopting any proposals to help prolong his time at Downing St., Starmer`s policies have to be both radical, concentrating on fairness, a concept low in the list of government priorities, and also, contrary to the new strategy, "significantly different on tax and spend" from the Tories (Will Starmer`s new strategy succeed in winning back traditional Labour voters? 03/02/21). Exposure of the myths on which Tory economic policies are based is essential, if taxes on the rich are to be increased and inequality reduced. With so much goodwill currently felt for underpaid key-workers and the new head of the Confederation of British Industry admitting that the UK needs to "rebuild a fairer, greener economy", now is the time for Labour to come up with some answers (UK needs 1945-style reboot of economy, says CBI chief, 04/02/21). That sounds a far better way to indicate your party`s concern for the country than flag-waving!