I don’t have faith in Keir Starmer to save the planet

It would seem that the good people of Uxbridge would rather vote Tory and choke on pollution than move towards a new cleaner environment for our children. Meanwhile, people around the world are either burning or drowning in the wake of manmade weather changes.

Meanwhile, a study published in the journal Nature Food states that a vegan diet leads to a 75 per cent cut in environmental damage. Any chance of either this government or Keir “I hate tree huggers” Starmer promoting real change for environmental protection? I think the answer is a resounding no. We appear to be sleepwalking into an environmental disaster. I’ll be voting Green at the next election. I hope more people do too before it’s too late.

Andy Vant

Shropshire

Reflecting on the Uxbridge by-election result and the impact of Ulez, I was drawn back to the early days of the Blair government and their seemingly deeply unpopular ban on smoking in public places. Right-wing politicians made similar noises in support of the licensee lobby who prophesied the destruction of the British Pub. Instead, the industry changed into the much more inclusive, family-friendly community hubs, with much better facilities. Needless to say there was a significant improvement in national health and well-being as a result.

Should we be concerned about a few dinosaurs in Outer London holding back progress towards a greener, healthier future? Demographics suggest the vast majority of Tories in Uxbridge and South Ruislip could well afford to comply with the emissions target and avoid the Ulez payment. This cynical exercise in electioneering focussing on the fears of those on modest incomes is typical of the previous parliamentary incumbent whose populist policies did immense damage to the health, welfare and economic prospects of the entire nation.

It might appear that having selected Boris Johnson as their MP they haven’t quite come to terms with his defenestration, appalling legacy and that of his party by once again focussing on a short-term populist issue.

David Smith

Taunton

Oh what a joy to see young Keir Alexander Mather, named after another former Labour MP called Keir Hardie and brought up in the former Hull East constituency of John Prescott, elected to the UK Parliament.

What a lovely breath of fresh air for everyone.

Twenty-five-year-old Keir Mather is one hard worker, having studied for four years for undergraduate and masters degrees at Oxford and completed work experience for the former Conservative MP Matthew Paris and his fellow Labour big hitter, Wes Streeting.

To overturn a 20,000 Conservative majority proves that both Keir Mather and Sir Keir Starmer must now be taken seriously.

It may not be the done deal yet, but over the coming months as he no doubt goes from town hall to town hall on the campaign trail, I’ve no doubt Sir Keir Starmer will be listening to everyone who has been affected by the economic incompetence of the Conservative Party and reflecting on that with a vision to lead Britain through the 2020s.

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire

Keir Starmer, my unsolicited advice is to just go to the London electorates you narrowly lost and spend some time there – on Saturday morning for example, talking to the people out shopping and ask them what they thought about the result and what they think about your policies!

Don’t blame Sadiq Khan and dump on the climate and the environment – an easy scapegoat for all politicians all over the planet including in my country Aotearoa – and look what is happening as a result! The destruction of the natural world and the suffering of humans and animals in more and more intolerable conditions!

This can’t go on!

Please put some work into finding a true solution! Your results weren’t all bad by any means! You are on track to win the next election, thank goodness!

Genevieve Forde

Whangaparaoa