Letters to the Editor – week ending 11th October 2026

Read what people have been writing to our editor about this week. Find out how to share your own views here.

Hope Again (again)

Dear Emma,

 On Andy’s conference speech. Feeling mixed with intellect.

There was an ambiguity because, while I like, support and respect Andy, I quite miss Starmer. I thought him, and still do actually, a thoroughly decent chap to lead us through the malaise of mediocrity that has pervaded politics for so long.

Nonetheless time moves on. In the previous leadership elections, Burnham had been my choice. Seeing and hearing him on Tuesday cemented that belief. He articulated a deliverable bravery that I haven’t heard from a Labour leader since perhaps Blair. It was that, with an honesty too, that, I think, made the difference.  It wasn’t more of the same. It was a very new tilt at persisting problems with perhaps a nod to the mixed economy ideal I think we Labour, emotionally aspire to.

 All in all, good stuff.  Devil in the detail and all that but what we needed nonetheless.

Best wishes,

Paul Tantó

*****

I am pleased to see our new Prime Minister float the idea of closer EU relations. While rejoining the EU seems like a distinct possibility within the next decade, the way I see it we do face two large issues, in some small part due to the EU itself.

For one, anything we agree with them would have to be Farage proof. Like it or lump it he remains a significant player in UK politics and I don’t believe the EU would be happy to go through long negotiations if the second someone like him gets into power he drags us out again. The second issue spans the voters; while I can’t speak for the entire country of course, having spoken to many of my friends the prevailing sentiment is that we should rejoin the EU…IF we have the same deal that we had before. Therein lies a problem, as over the years, whenever rejoining has floated in the British press multiple EU representatives have made it clear they would accept only full membership, with all that entails. While I believe most people want us to rejoin, I also believe that would largely depend on the kind of deal Andy could strike. My friends and I see things like adopting the Euro, for example, as a line we would not cross and while such things are generally opt outs, with representatives implying they wouldn’t allow it I foresee many complications. 

Then again, many members of the EU seem to like Andy quite a bit, so perhaps I’m overreacting.

Joshua Copeland-Jones

Bristol North West CLP

*****

Isn’t it rather embarrassing and symptomatic of the dire nature of our political discourse, that the phrase ‘Hope’ seems to be both a campaign rallying cry and a sort of blanket statement of policy.

We have been in government over two years with a large majority, what are we now hoping for?  

My local party has a giant Hope sign in the HQ window. But failed to field candidates in the local elections. Hoping for what?

Trevor Hopper
Lewes 

*****

Morning all

Wonderful article from Tessa Dean around the labour party conference & some interesting points well done Tessa!

Jimmy woods
Liverpool

*****

Dear Emma

We got a free ‘Ticket to Ride’ on the Arriva electric shuttle bus service to and from the Liverpool Conference this year.

Firstbus ran a similar shuttle bus service for Conference in 2025 and we were grateful.

Previously to this 2025 shuttle bus, public transport routes to the Conference involved catching a number of buses, a longer bus journey, and quite a bit of walking, sometimes in poor weather, or even hiring taxis. Regrettably, in July 2026 we found out that Firstbus were unable to run a service for 2026 and no other service was being provided.

So we campaigned with our MP, Danny Beales, and reached out to Stephen Timms MP Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Lucy Powell MP Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Abdi Duale NEC Member, and Bassam Mahfouz Labour’s Assembly Member amongst others, and we enlisted their help.

Arriva got on board, and from the Saturday to the Wednesday afternoons, the 2026 Conference shuttle buses ran to and from Lime Street rail station (Skelhorne Street) to the Conference Centre, every 20 minutes. The journey took less than fifteen minutes.

Many members and attendees including those with reduced mobility, or who are disabled particularly appreciated this accessible service.

Everyone from the bus drivers and bus stop representatives were exceptionally helpful. The service was very convenient, efficient, better advertised and saved Conference attendee’s time and money.

For those of us who used the Arriva shuttle buses please thank those concerned and you’re Labour MP.

With support, let’s hope we can repeat this valuable service next year.

All the best

John Campbell

Political Education Officer

Uxbridge and South Ruislip Constituency Labour Party

*****

Football blues

Excellent balanced piece from “one of them”!

Our family are all Evertonians, 2 season ticket holders.

The PM has no reason to reproach himself to date but he must behave in a statesmanlike manner when the final verdict drops.

Trump is the gold standard for getting this type of thing so wrong as to make himself a pariah.If he ponders what the Orange Grifter would do, and does the opposite, he will be sure to be on the right side of history.

James is right that this is a visceral issue for a huge number of voters whichever team or political party they support

Jack Harper

Rural affairs

I represent a rural county. The reaction to the (mis)management of this scheme by our farmers is the same as that which followed from the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance. It is politically toxic

Now farmers work to a seasonal cycle. The planting cycle needs to recognise the associated lead times for seed/ fertiliser/ etc and funding streams must be accordingly aligned by Govt if these are to be deployed efficiently.

My understanding is that it is an issue of Govt. process. Dept budgets are set following the Budget in October. This should mean that by December the Dept is aware of what grants will be available when, and the criteria to be applied.

So, I believe that there a major procedural failure on the part of the Civil Service (eg. SFI26), which is causing unnecessary financial hardship and inefficient decision-making for our farmers, and major political damage to our Government. It is wholly unnecessary and could be simply addressed.

Cllr Ramsay Ross
Leader of the Labour Group
Rutland CC

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