KATHRYN MULREADY,
Sir, - It isn't enough for the Labour Party to change leaders. The leader is only the outside wrapper. It's the policies that matter.
The Labour Party has been hoovering up left-wing parties for years - Jim Kemmy's party, Declan Bree's party, and Democratic Left. But it doesn't turn left itself - it stays as watery and as bland as possible.
Labour thinks that because it hasn't been involved in corruption scandals, Irish electors (a dying breed ) will be grateful and vote for it.
Some one needs to tell Labour it may have missed the wake-up call: Sinn Féin, the Green Party and assorted Independents are not afraid to be radical. While Labour ponders where to position itself on the political spectrum, the others are stealing a march.
As a lifelong Labour voter, I have often taken directions from the Labour Party on how to use my preferences. Never again. - Yours, etc.,
KATHRYN MULREADY,
Calderwood Road,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
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Sir, - The suits in the Labour party are indistinguishable from the suits in the other main parties and the policy differences between them are fairly marginal. If the party seeks a different personality for itself, one that will distinguish it from the other parties and offer a possibility of electoral success, it needs to elect a woman. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN McGUIGGAN,
Punchestown,
Ballymore Eustace,
Co Kildare.