A Blairite former minister (John Hutton) provides political cover for the Tory attack on the pensions of millions of public sector workers. A Labour party leader, elected promising change and a move away from Blairism, fails to stand with workers to fight this pension robbery (Report, 27 June). What is the point of the Labour party if it will not support workers in their struggle? I feel betrayed by Ed Miliband, who promised much in his leadership campaign but, once he has got where he wanted to be, has turned into yet another New Labour apologist for Tory policies. Surely it is time for a new party to represent workers and hold true to the values many of us thought Labour was supposed to represent.
Chris Gale
Chippenham, Wiltshire
? The Labour party died on Thursday. For a Labour party leader to instruct his MPs to cross official trade union picket lines, and for those MPs to comply meekly with his instruction, is the ultimate, unforgiveable, final act of betrayal. Never again will Labour be able to say it is the party of the workers, and even the most hidebound of those workers must now realise that if they vote Labour they are electing Tories.
Ian McNicholas
Ebbw Vale, Gwent
? Maggie Hazel (Letters, 30 June) laments the Labour party's failure to support the "ordinary people out there who need to know ... that someone is on their side" over the current industrial disputes and public service cuts more generally. Someone is. One party has consistently opposed such cuts and advocated fairness on every issue from tax to tuition fees. Its leader says on its website this week that "the coalition government's relentless attack on this country's public servants has left them with no choice", that they "have been abandoned by the other main Westminster parties" and that she "will be joining the picket lines in solidarity". That is the Green party. No union striking this week is a Labour affiliate, but perhaps those that are should think long and hard about which party most deserves their money.
Laurie Marks
Cambridge
? Walking with thousands in Brighton today, it was wonderful to feel the strong support of most onlookers and the strength of feeling on this issue. We simply want what we grew up believing was the hallmark of any civilised society ? a fair pension for everybody in this country. Let's hope the government takes notice. Well done to Caroline Lucas, our MP, for joining us and showing in her speech that she is with us. Thank you to the many individual Labour MPs who sent messages of support. But here's a message to the Labour leadership. If you don't think you are for this action, what exactly do you think Labour is for?
Val Lucas
Brighton
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jun/30/labour-public-sector-pensions
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