Andrew Marr writes of “the spreading notion that democratic politics is failing” (Politics, 20 June), however makes no point out of the one concern I’d counsel is essential to this: unlawful immigration, and the small-boats “disaster” specifically. This isn’t to do with the precise variety of arrivals, which is tiny in comparison with different types of immigration, however the failure of successive administrations to unravel this concern, which feeds a disaster in belief.
It jogs my memory of a narrative instructed in regards to the former Labour MP Lena Jeger when she was campaigning in 1953 in Holborn and St Pancras. For Jeger, the difficulty of the day was the rearmament of West Germany. When canvassing in a block of council flats, she observed the odor of urine within the raise. One girl listened patiently to Jeger’s pitch in regards to the folly of rearming the Germans, after which requested whether or not she’d used the raise. “Stinks of pee, doesn’t it? Can’t you cease ’em peeing in our raise?”
“I don’t assume I can,” replied Jeger. “Properly,” mentioned the lady, “in the event you can’t cease ’em peeing in our raise, how will you count on me to imagine you may cease the Germans rearming?” If the Labour authorities can’t resolve the small-boats concern, then speak of all the opposite areas and initiatives talked about by Marr will likely be for nought.
Daniel Callaghan, Ealing, London W13
New instances, new pondering
As soon as once more the New Statesman has proven how change could be managed: beneath a brand new editor the most effective of the outdated, growth of the acquainted, immensely welcome new contributors, considerate deal with new concepts, however no drastic alterations to the trusted components of greater than a century.
Veronica Baker-Smith, Pangbourne, Berks
Mild contact
The newest Sketch piece by Matt Chorley (20 June) tickled me pink. After years of doom and gloom within the information, and cancel tradition bottling up comedians, a chunk that evenly takes a dig in any respect sides is a welcome reduction. Extra servings of mirth and horrible puns please.
Charles Lambert, London SW15
Cautious optimism
David Miliband (World View, 13 June) describes a Damascus ice cream retailer being as “packed because it was… in 2008”. Bashar al-Assad stored Syria collectively and fairly properly off till the Arab Spring. The brand new regime will face the identical drawback as him: some opposition will likely be seen as harmful and should be suppressed. For some time the nation, exhausted by battle, will likely be quiet, however each authorities resists being overthrown. Allow us to hope Syria succeeds the place so many have failed.
Alice Edwards, Wokingham, Berks
Breakfast of champions
Pescatarian Keir Starmer (Cowl Story, 13 June) will need to have had an alternate motive for his breakfast selection of “plain, untouched baked beans”, as I’m positive the Royal Navy may have furnished him with eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and doubtlessly even hash browns. An indication of a return to austerity, maybe?
Colin Paine, Horsforth, Leeds
Literature’s final stand
Hearty congratulations to James Marriott for his sensible article on the decline of literature (The New Society, 13 June). His comment to his interviewers at Oxford, that “literature exhibits us what it’s or is likely to be to be human”, is spot on: definitely Dickens, TS Eliot and George Eliot, to call just some, have taught me much more about that than the “vulgar parvenu” of psychology, which I studied within the Sixties. I appeared upon these individuals who studied English with envy. The destiny of literature will not be the reason for disaster in our civilisation, or vice versa, however, as Marriott says, I too worry they is likely to be coterminous.
Nigel Austin, Dorchester, Dorset
Energy of writing
Studying Pippa Bailey’s Deleted Scenes (20 June) on the demise of her father introduced tears to my eyes. It was a deeply shifting account of private loss that additionally managed to be common. It can’t have been a simple piece to jot down, however I’m so glad she did and shared it with us. Trustworthy, highly effective and underlying the significance of human connections – writing like that is why I learn the New Statesman. Thanks.
John Adcock, Ashtead, Surrey
Lezard spins everlasting
Returning to the New Statesman after a number of years, I used to be happy to seek out that, in a world getting madder by the day, Lezard stays, spinning, as at all times, a thread of comforting continuity. Fantastic.
Patrick O’Brien, Capel Seion, Aberystwyth
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[See also: Keir Starmer faces war on all fronts]