Letters: Labour faces an uphill struggle in Scotland

Because both Scottish Labour leadership hopefuls, Anas Sarwar and Richard Leonard, are prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Tories in defence of a populist, ethnological type of British nationalism rather than the progressive and civic nationalism espoused by the Yes movement, Labour has a fight on its hands to win back members who left to support independence.

If Labour is to make any kind of comeback in Scotland, criticism of Nicola Sturgeon must be constructive and it must work with the SNP to challenge the rise of the Tories in Scotland.

On the EU and Scottish independence, Labour is behind the curve on two of the most important issues to challenge Britain for many years.

A Sarwar win could signal a return to discredited Blairism. Labour’s promise to govern for the many, not the few, will crumble into dust because Mr Sarwar is one of the few. Yes, there is nothing wrong with being wealthy, but when wealth comes from a family business which exploits workers by paying less than the living wage, Labour will never be taken seriously when it talks about inequality and workers’ rights if Mr Sarwar is elected.

Mr Leonard on the other hand is promoted as a candidate of the left who will take Labour back to its socialist roots. He says he will decentralise power to local councils. But if some councils’ recent silence on unsafe cladding on high rise flats is anything to go by, how could they ever be trusted with more power?

Councils do not need more power, they need resources, which are in short supply due to the failure of devolution and Westminster austerity, in which Labour has played a part.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh