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The Herald Scotland

What a bonus if Starmer is forced to ape Corbyn and not Farage

Plus, as a member of the Labour Party he famously was never a team player. But with the current Labour Party under the disastrous Keir Starmer (two-child benefit cap, no caps for bankers' bonuses, the pensioner winter payment fiasco, turning on the Waspi women, the whole free suit/glasses nonsense and to cap it all, complicity in Gaza genocide), there is one thing Mr Corbyn's new venture could do. Instead of spending a huge amount of time, political energy and wasting precious political capital trying to out-Farage Farage, maybe Keir Starmer will even things out and attempt to out-Corbyn Corbyn. Amanda Baker, Edinburgh. Reform will be the winner The chaotic launch of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's new left-wing party may seem farcical on the surface, but it poses a very real and immediate threat to Labour and its allies. Polling shows this group could draw around 10% of the national vote – an amount that, while not enough to win, could be catastrophic for Labour's electoral prospects. The greatest beneficiary? Not the Tories, but Reform. Keir Starmer's grip on power is already under strain amid public disillusionment with his leadership style, spiralling public spending, the highest taxes in 70 years and an utterly nonsensical approach to illegal immigration which has not addressed the 'pull factor' one jot. The addition of a new hard-left alternative risks fracturing the left-wing vote beyond repair. More dangerously still, murmurs of discontent among sitting Labour MPs – especially those with slim majorities – raise the spectre of defections. If even a handful break ranks and shift to this new movement, the optics for the PM will be devastating. He will no longer be seen as the unifying force that won power, but the man who presided over the disintegration of Labour as we know it today. Clearly, a Labour-Green split in the face of this insurgent leftist bloc could be the difference between a fragile minority government and a total collapse by 2029. Keir Starmer may believe the hard left has been banished, but their return – however muddled – is a warning. Ignore it, and he may not last another four years, let alone win a second term. Small wonder support for Reform is surging. Ian Lakin, Aberdeen. Read more letters A broad church for indy needed I note Neil Mackay's thoughtful piece ("Corbyn's new party does not just threaten Labour, it will wound SNP too", [[The Herald]], July 26) on the potential of Jeremy Corbyn's new party to disrupt not only the Scottish Labour Party but the [[SNP]] vote too. My first thought was, is there a "wheesht for Labour" thing going? Perhaps not by Neil but there is by some. Secondly, I'm a socialist-leaning SNP supporter. Would this potential opportunity affect my vote? On reflection no. My red line is independence, I strongly believe that Scotland would thrive, economically, politically and socially as an independent nation state. A good neighbour to England but not ruled by her. My ongoing "fight" will be for independence just as it is for over 50% of the population. However after Independence Day I will then fight for a constitution that best frames my political vision, as of course will other Scots. The SNP needs to run a centre course, to be a broad church, to lead us to that independent future. Although a bit more "leading" would certainly help. Dr Jacqui Jensen, Perth. Mhairi Black was no trailblazer You describe former SNP MP Mairi Black as a 'trailblazer' ("Trailblazing former SNP MP Mhairi Black quits the party", The Herald, July 15), but what exactly did she achieve in nine years picking up her wages at the taxpayers' expense? She got elected age 20, with no work experience. Her party's propaganda/spin machine got behind her to give her a profile, and apparently, she made a speech which did well on the internet and made her in to a minor celebrity in the political bubble. It is difficult to believe that 10 million people viewed that video. Maybe Nicola Sturgeon had her finger on the 'Watch Again' button for several weeks, or some bots helped her with the numbers. If 10 million people really watched it, then they need to give themselves a good shake. But what did she actually do? There are no achievements that are apparent at all. She did not front up any piece of legislation, initiate any high-level campaigns or leave any legacy projects in her own constituency. She did jump on various bandwagons, but anyone can do that, and none of those bandwagons really went anywhere. Apparently, she did not like her job, which is not surprising in someone so young. She defended her seat when the SNP had the political wind at the backs, but then jumped ship in 2024 before her constituents had the opportunity to oust her. Ms Black has been the poster girl of the very shallow and superficial politics we have seen in Scotland over the last 10-15 years. What she does or does not believe in is neither here nor there. She had an opportunity to do things to help people in their everyday lives, but did not do anything of note in the time she had. Now, it is apparently the fault of everyone else. We need politicians who can do things in Scotland, not these minor wannabe celebrities. 'Trailblazing' is completely the wrong word for Ms Black. It is certainly not the kind of trail we want anyone else to follow. Victor Clements, Aberfeldy. SNP ranks will be thinner I have championed Mhairi Black from her early university days and believe she is a strong voice for Scotland, an impressive orator and I wish she had not left the SNP. What I do think will happen to the SNP now will be a thinning of the ranks from those who are members who joined for the referendum with their own agendas and saw independence as an avenue to secure their personal aims; when their aims were not met what was left was their own agenda, showing that their commitment to the SNP and independence was never their main goal. Those who remain in the SNP are in the majority around the centre ground, committed to independence, who recognise it as a long game and continue to be a voice for an Independent Scotland from within the SNP. The opportunity arose in 2014 to secure an independent Scotland and over half of Scotland said no, the people spoke and democracy means we respect the vote and continue to work towards independence. The SNP is and always has been the means to secure Independence, when the people of Scotland unite, decide they have enough then we will be an Independent country. Christine Smith, Troon. Mhairi Black has left the SNP (Image: Newsquest) Immigration conundrum The UK Government is planning an end to housing immigrants in hotels. The main political parties all have plans to end illegal immigration by stopping the rubber boat crossings from France. The Prime Minister says he will wage war on the people-smuggling gangs. He also has some kind of botched-together deal with President Macron of France. Up until September of last year there were 810,400 economically inactive people in Scotland. Crime has risen among immigrants in Britain and Scotland has a housing shortage. John Swinney wants more immigrants in Scotland which if organised properly could benefit the country. If a person arrives with qualifications and is willing to contribute that shouldn't be a problem. Immigrants who come here to sponge off the taxpayer and become involved in crime should get nowhere near our border. But who's going to decide who comes in and who doesn't? Ian Balloch, Grangemouth.