Letter: Methods for electing a successor to John Smith
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Following John Smith's death last Thursday, there is already intense speculation that the Labour Party's unity will be riven by the contest for the succession. This need not be so.
The succession contest is, in effect, a national primary. As well as MPs, the electorate for choosing Smith's successor embraces ordinary Labour Party members and trade union political levy-payers throughout the country. And while they will wield the votes, their choice will be influenced by the reactions of their friends at home or colleagues at work who do not possess a vote.
The BBC, Independent Television, BSkyB, national and local radio and newspapers should offer time or space to the contestants to set out their vision for the future of Britain, as well as the future of the Labour Party. In particular, there should be proper televised debates between the candidates, not the structured artificial question-and-answer type of the US presidential 'debates' but real free-wheeling, cut-and-thrust exchanges.
The best tribute the media could pay to the patriotism and statesmanship they found in John Smith would be to advise the Labour Party that once the European elections were over their facilities would be made available for such a debate. It would then be up to the candidates themselves to prove or disprove the thesis that a leadership contest automatically entails the reopening of old wounds so carefully healed by John Smith.
Yours faithfully,
JOHN ROBERTS
Edinburgh
13 May
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments