Join the conversation: Readers’ thoughts on the UK election results
What does Starmer’s victory mean for the left? What will Sunak’s legacy be? Every Friday we share your views
Welcome to openDemocracy’s weekly reader comments round-up. We receive so many carefully considered messages about our work that it seems a shame to keep them to ourselves!
You can send your thoughts to be included in next week’s round-up by replying directly to any of our emails or commenting on our articles.
These comments have been edited for clarity, accuracy and length, and aren’t necessarily a reflection of openDemocracy's editorial position.
Re: What does Starmer’s victory mean for the left?
To imply the success of Reform is a model for a new party of ‘the left’ is risible. Nigel Farage is a well-known figure, a creation of the media, mainly due to the BBC and his repeated appearances on Question Time. The almost entirely foreign-owned UK media is right-wing and continues to publicise him and his anti-immigrant agenda.
A new left-wing party would be either ignored, ridiculed and excoriated by the media, by the Labour Party and by other left-wing groups’ narcissism of the vanity of small differences.
For any ‘left’ grouping to come into existence I think it has to derive from local activism and build from there. I think, too, that it has to engage in activities such as strikes and boycotts aimed specifically at the issues. –Alasdair Macdonald
The problem with the majority of independent candidates, including many of those who ran against Labour, is that they often stand on one subject – in this case, Gaza. But an MP has to represent all their voters with their many problems over five years. Those whose main priority is just one subject do the voters a disservice. This seems to be why people like George Galloway never get re-elected. –Roger Hart
Did Labour have a landslide in Scotland? Despite what you may have gleaned from the mainstream media, the SNP in Scotland was a very close second in nearly all of the seats that Labour won. Apparently, the SNP is finished – I can assure you it is not.
The numbers voting for parties seeking independence outweigh the vote for Labour. Many Scots stayed at home believing that although they were desperate to give the Tories a bloody nose they couldn't bear to come out and vote for another Unionist party.
It’s a shame those of us campaigning for the SNP didn't get the message across, but it’s tricky when the media is not pro-Scot and is positively anti-independence. We have an election for the Scottish Parliament in two years, I know where my energy will be spent until then. –Joy Cameron
As a trans woman, I feel that Labour aren’t outright haters of trans people like the Conservatives were, but that they are still only pretend allies. Things will still get worse, but perhaps not as quickly. –Desirae Markland
My thoughts post-election are about how badly we need electoral reform! Voters deserve fair representation and as these election results show, we don’t have it. –Beverley Le Brun
Re: What will Sunak’s legacy be?
The man who obeyed Israel. –Michael Jefferies
He should be in jail with the rest of his cohorts, maybe try making that his legacy. –Alistair Turner
Re: Lovebombed by lobbyists: How Labour became the party of big business
The name of the party should now fall under misleading advertising. Time to change the name from Labour to Corporate. –Paul Turnbull
Re: ‘How do we control Palestinians? We make them feel like we are everywhere’
As your newsletter rightly says: “Chilling!” The clear message is that Zionist, apartheid Israel's major focus is on running a testing ground for AI/Digital means of population suppression; which should cause any thinking person to shudder and think: ‘Palestine today! Who Tomorrow?’ –Alan King
This description of Israel's surveillance and control of Palestine sounds like Orwell's 1984. –David Manovitch
This latest article is frightening and illuminating and shows that we, in this country, really do need to be aware of the way AI is being used and how it can be manipulated – thank you for sharing this information. –Clare
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