1 day ago
10
Blue Labour’s suggestion to scrap diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is immoral and fails to recognise the importance of this to other parts of the centre-left coalition that makes up the Labour party (Blue Labour group urges ministers to ‘root out DEI’ to win over Reform voters, 2 June). The more that Blue Labour promotes Reform-friendly policies, the less likely the others will remain supporters.
In 2024 Keir Starmer achieved a very narrow coalition that won well in enough constituencies with fewer votes than Labour achieved in 2019 (then described as the party’s worst result since 1935).
There are some exceptional Labour MPs, like Simon Opher, who understand the importance of solidifying the centre-left coalition and fighting Reform UK by retaining its values. But many are surrendering them by adopting the extremism of Reform.
Starmer’s weak coalition of 2024 has fractured beyond measure, and for those on the left, the choices in England are a shift towards either the Greens and Liberal Democrats, or a new party of the left. The latter could be a real danger to Labour, as it could be as successful as the Social Democratic party was in the 1980s in dividing Labour and securing victory for a rightwing party.
For many, particularly those in non-Labour seats, there is no point in waiting. Now is the time to find a new political home. The choice is not easy and will often depend on the local strength of the other centre-left parties.
Chas Townley
Brockworth, Gloucestershire
About half a century ago, I wrote a report for the National Union of Journalists called Black and White: Race Reporting in Britain, pointing out that expressions like “a coloured man” were common in BBC news bulletins and in broadsheets. It asked why most media outlets employed no non‑white journalists.
I now realise that, according to one of today’s Nigel Farage cults that is apparently supported by Blue Labour, I believed in diversity, equity and inclusion – three words not only to be expunged from Labour’s lexicon but made into a law of political purity. It seems I was guilty of the crime of “woke”. I can add it retrospectively to my many other convictions.
Dr Denis MacShane
MP for Rotherham, 1994-2012
