Letters: None of what Labour is doing is perfect – but it's better than what went before

A reader responds to recent correspondents turning away from Labour, but says that the Green Party are a more viable alternative that Reform UK.

Lean towards Green

I totally understand why people are feeling frustrated and disillusioned with the actions of Starmer and his Labour government. We have to put this in context though. They inherited a colossal mess from the Tories. Being in government is difficult with many conflicting choices and demands. Labour have made some positive changes to this country – trade deals, rebuilding our EU relationship, investment in infrastructure, etc. They also listened to people and reversed the decision on winter fuel payments.

None of this is perfect – but it is better than what went before. 

If you are feeling angry with the government and want to vote differently I urge extreme caution with Reform UK. In a nutshell they will stoke your anger, tell you what you want to hear to win your vote, then do absolutely nothing to address your concerns.  

A realistic alternative to Labour is the Green Party – they do have practical, costed policies that put people first and offer real hope and real change. I encourage people to take a look at what the Greens have to offer.

Mark Popay

No ifs, no buts

When children are removed from their parents, it’s not so much that the system doesn’t care about the interests of the parent as well, it’s that they’re not actually allowed to. The piece of legislation that governs these matters, the 1989 Children Act, states unequivocally in its preamble that “the child’s welfare is paramount”. No ifs, no buts. No scope for arguing in court about the impact on the parents, now or in the future.

Therefore, social work case files are in the name of the child, not the family. If an adult is no longer deemed relevant to a child’s wellbeing, they drop off from social services radar, because there is no way within the system for them to have a file of their own, support needs of their own. And tragically the next time many of these parents appear back on the radar is because another child is on the way and it’s too late to do all the transformative work that could have made for a better outcome next time.

So any change in the system would have to start with a change in the underpinning legislation, and the underlying principle, that only the child’s welfare counts. I was a child protection social worker in 1989 when the act first came in. We were all dismayed that this paramountcy principle was brought in without any consultation with either social workers or the public, who by and large wouldn’t have agreed with it even then.

Sylvia Rose

Better not to know

We should be careful not to overburden children with the massive problems that we have caused. Even encouraging adults to ‘Save the Earth’ feels like a heavy, depressing burden. For kids it would be better for their mental health if we encouraged them to reduce plastic use, pick up litter etc, instead of telling them all the gory details of what we, adults, have done and need to do to bring balance back to this planet. Unfortunately, due to social media and kids’ access to it, they know far too much about the negatives of this world.

Ulrica Cooper, Leytonstone

Read more:

• Keir Starmer might not have ‘rizz’ – but maybe we should give him a chance
• Working class and young people are ditching Labour. ‘Aping Reform’ won’t bring them back
• The radical right have stolen the centre left’s clothes – but it’s not too late to fight back

You first

Having read the wonderful Letter to My Younger Self with ex-WREN Dorothea Barron, I would like to add that I really wish that we could go back to the days (Middle Ages and before) when leaders who wanted to wage war led their soldiers into battle. 

Marilyn Sansom, Canterbury

Boat people

Your article, as part of Refugee Week, on the plight of the Vietnamese boat people was timely and important. I had the privilege to know many refugees from Vietnam when I was responsible for, and a board member, of Lien Viet Housing Association.

For so many the impact was devastating and rebuilding their lives very difficult. All too often we see the war as purely a military operation, the “American” war, and yet the impact on the civilian population was immense.

The end of the military action was the beginning of retribution for those in the south. Reading the powerful books by Nguyen Phan Que Mai The Mountains Sing and Dust Child brings home the sheer scale of the impact on society and reminds us that the end of war is not the end of the hurt.

We should use the reminder of the dangers, exploitation and risks the boat people faced when considering how best to support those fleeing from war and discrimination today. The fact so many Vietnamese continue to be trafficked is heartbreaking.

Stephen Stringer

Re: Issue 1672’s Young Team Takeover

Sounds like a dope issue – giving young voices a platform is always a win. Can’t wait to check it out!

@jackie_hof60144, X

Love this! Influence with purpose (especially to fix education) is what the world truly needs.

@katehauserwrites, Instagram

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