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| This was a vote for a better politics and the prospect of real change | This was a vote for a better politics and the prospect of real change |
| (7 months later) | |
| Letters | |
| Fri 9 Jun 2017 18.49 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 22.56 GMT | |
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| Those many in your own ranks who have constantly, often savagely, joined the chorus from the rightwing press in your derision of Jeremy Corbyn, ever since his first stunning victory in winning the Labour leadership, need now first to take their hats off to him in the utmost humility – and then eat them. In my own constituency the home secretary very nearly lost her seat as an avalanche of new voters – the young and fired-up, and also the disempowered and suffering, as I witnessed over and over again on our streets on Thursday – came together with the rest of us who have kept faith with Jeremy Corbyn. | Those many in your own ranks who have constantly, often savagely, joined the chorus from the rightwing press in your derision of Jeremy Corbyn, ever since his first stunning victory in winning the Labour leadership, need now first to take their hats off to him in the utmost humility – and then eat them. In my own constituency the home secretary very nearly lost her seat as an avalanche of new voters – the young and fired-up, and also the disempowered and suffering, as I witnessed over and over again on our streets on Thursday – came together with the rest of us who have kept faith with Jeremy Corbyn. |
| This was, above all, a vote for a better politics and for the prospect of real change. This pattern has been repeated across the land and Corbyn’s parliamentary colleagues who have done so much to undermine him and his team should hang their heads in shame, apologise (he has said he loves a good group hug), and then get out of their collective bubble and on with helping Jeremy build a better place for us all to live.Dr Felicity LaurenceHastings, East Sussex | This was, above all, a vote for a better politics and for the prospect of real change. This pattern has been repeated across the land and Corbyn’s parliamentary colleagues who have done so much to undermine him and his team should hang their heads in shame, apologise (he has said he loves a good group hug), and then get out of their collective bubble and on with helping Jeremy build a better place for us all to live.Dr Felicity LaurenceHastings, East Sussex |
| • I am stunned but delighted by the election result. Despite having massive corporate donations and a vile, hostile Tory press, it just shows that the power lies not with the established media, but with the energy of young activists both on the street and via social media. As I watched the election results channel hopping, the BBC stuck to its tired format of crusty politicians and analysts, while both Sky and ITV were utilising correctly the influence of social media. The times they are a changing.Peter FoyTeignmouth, Devon | • I am stunned but delighted by the election result. Despite having massive corporate donations and a vile, hostile Tory press, it just shows that the power lies not with the established media, but with the energy of young activists both on the street and via social media. As I watched the election results channel hopping, the BBC stuck to its tired format of crusty politicians and analysts, while both Sky and ITV were utilising correctly the influence of social media. The times they are a changing.Peter FoyTeignmouth, Devon |
| • While watching several hours of the BBC’s election night coverage I was struck by how often “young people” were mentioned, compared with how few featured on the programme. I didn’t notice anyone under 30 and one of the few people under 40 was media editor Amol Rajan. His only role was to read out tweets. It’s understandable that these mythical “young people” so often feel politics isn’t for or about them.Phil GyfordLondon | • While watching several hours of the BBC’s election night coverage I was struck by how often “young people” were mentioned, compared with how few featured on the programme. I didn’t notice anyone under 30 and one of the few people under 40 was media editor Amol Rajan. His only role was to read out tweets. It’s understandable that these mythical “young people” so often feel politics isn’t for or about them.Phil GyfordLondon |
| • In his final speech to the House of Commons in 2001, Tony Benn said: “The real danger to democracy is not that someone will burn Buckingham Palace and run up the red flag, but that people will not vote.” He would be so proud of Jeremy Corbyn and of all the young people who registered and voted in such high numbers. Our democracy is stronger today. Emma JonesAbingdon, Oxfordshire | • In his final speech to the House of Commons in 2001, Tony Benn said: “The real danger to democracy is not that someone will burn Buckingham Palace and run up the red flag, but that people will not vote.” He would be so proud of Jeremy Corbyn and of all the young people who registered and voted in such high numbers. Our democracy is stronger today. Emma JonesAbingdon, Oxfordshire |
| • Time to praise younger people. Next stop, votes for everyone at 16.John NicholsonManchester | • Time to praise younger people. Next stop, votes for everyone at 16.John NicholsonManchester |
| • It’s the youngsters what did it. Howard and Lorna Lambert (77 and 75)London | • It’s the youngsters what did it. Howard and Lorna Lambert (77 and 75)London |
| • Tony Blair? Peter Mandelson? Can you hear me? Can you hear me, Gordon Brown? Alastair Campbell? Your political philosophy took one hell of a beating.Ken MacIntyreWest Horsley, Surrey | • Tony Blair? Peter Mandelson? Can you hear me? Can you hear me, Gordon Brown? Alastair Campbell? Your political philosophy took one hell of a beating.Ken MacIntyreWest Horsley, Surrey |
| • The Conservative party called for an EU referendum for which few asked, a snap election even fewer sought, and now might enter into a coalition with the DUP that has never been uttered to the electorate. If the Conservative party continues to make decisions for party, not national interest, it might be the existential crisis of the Tory party, not Labour, we will be talking about soon.Dr Karl BrennanSheffield | • The Conservative party called for an EU referendum for which few asked, a snap election even fewer sought, and now might enter into a coalition with the DUP that has never been uttered to the electorate. If the Conservative party continues to make decisions for party, not national interest, it might be the existential crisis of the Tory party, not Labour, we will be talking about soon.Dr Karl BrennanSheffield |
| • Several issues are clear. Cameron bet the country’s future through the referendum in the narrow interest of the Conservative party. May bet the country’s future on a snap election in the interests of the Conservative party and herself. It is clear evidence that the Conservatives will always put the interests of their party over the country.Gary NethercottWoodbridge, Suffolk | • Several issues are clear. Cameron bet the country’s future through the referendum in the narrow interest of the Conservative party. May bet the country’s future on a snap election in the interests of the Conservative party and herself. It is clear evidence that the Conservatives will always put the interests of their party over the country.Gary NethercottWoodbridge, Suffolk |
| • June is here and May has surely gone.Jol MiskinSheffield | • June is here and May has surely gone.Jol MiskinSheffield |
| • I know it’s early doors, but can we look forward to Theresa partnering Anton on Strictly before the year’s out?Ian GrieveGordon Bennett, Shropshire Union canal | • I know it’s early doors, but can we look forward to Theresa partnering Anton on Strictly before the year’s out?Ian GrieveGordon Bennett, Shropshire Union canal |
| • Dementia Tax. Shortest suicide note in history.Robert FrazerSalford | • Dementia Tax. Shortest suicide note in history.Robert FrazerSalford |
| • We can’t say Theresa May didn’t warn us. Vote for me or it’s a coalition of chaos was the dire threat. And so it came to pass.Chris PickeringLeeds | • We can’t say Theresa May didn’t warn us. Vote for me or it’s a coalition of chaos was the dire threat. And so it came to pass.Chris PickeringLeeds |
| • What irony. The Tories warned the electorate that voting Labour would lead to a minority Labour government propped up by the SNP. And what do we have? A minority Tory government propped up by a DUP with a vastly different agenda to most MPs, let alone the electorate.Jonathan RichardsBrighton | • What irony. The Tories warned the electorate that voting Labour would lead to a minority Labour government propped up by the SNP. And what do we have? A minority Tory government propped up by a DUP with a vastly different agenda to most MPs, let alone the electorate.Jonathan RichardsBrighton |
| • SNP vote share is down from nearly 50% in 2015 to 36.9% today. The SNP is a single issue party and that issue – separating Scotland from the UK – is dependent on a referendum. A general election vote doesn’t necessarily correlate with any possible independence referendum result, but it does make indyref2 look high risk for Ms Sturgeon right now.Martin RedfernEdinburgh | • SNP vote share is down from nearly 50% in 2015 to 36.9% today. The SNP is a single issue party and that issue – separating Scotland from the UK – is dependent on a referendum. A general election vote doesn’t necessarily correlate with any possible independence referendum result, but it does make indyref2 look high risk for Ms Sturgeon right now.Martin RedfernEdinburgh |
| • One claim the election result has demolished: that our absurd first-past-the-post electoral system produces stable governments. Second time in seven years.Professor James Henderson ReidNottingham | • One claim the election result has demolished: that our absurd first-past-the-post electoral system produces stable governments. Second time in seven years.Professor James Henderson ReidNottingham |
| • Time for the Guardian to ditch ICM Unlimited as its pollster? The election forecast (8 June) was way out, but YouGov – which you quote in your report – had the result almost exactly right. Peter ThistlethwaiteSaltash, Cornwall | • Time for the Guardian to ditch ICM Unlimited as its pollster? The election forecast (8 June) was way out, but YouGov – which you quote in your report – had the result almost exactly right. Peter ThistlethwaiteSaltash, Cornwall |
| • The scurrilous anti-Corbyn campaign of the rightwing press backfired. It was the Sun wot lost it.Cyril DuffLondon | • The scurrilous anti-Corbyn campaign of the rightwing press backfired. It was the Sun wot lost it.Cyril DuffLondon |
| • It was the Guardian wot done it (Editorial, 3 June).Austen LynchGarstang, Lancashire | • It was the Guardian wot done it (Editorial, 3 June).Austen LynchGarstang, Lancashire |
| • I’m really looking forward to hearing Brenda from Bristol’s reaction to the likelihood of a further general election.John MulrenanLondon | • I’m really looking forward to hearing Brenda from Bristol’s reaction to the likelihood of a further general election.John MulrenanLondon |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| General election 2017 | |
| Labour | |
| Jeremy Corbyn | |
| Theresa May | |
| BBC | |
| TV news | |
| letters | |
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