Dear Progress
Now that the Tories have announced their intention to abolish tuition fees if they win the next election, it is more important than ever that the government drops its plans for top-up fees. Such a policy is going to be a very hard sell on the doorsteps. A graduate tax, a promise to expand higher education and a pledge that universities will not be allowed to charge differing rates is the only to go.
Steve Smith, Leeds
Dear Progress
The unprecedented decision of GlaxoSmithKline shareholders to vote against a £22m remuneration package for its chief executive should be widely welcomed. Just as consumers are using their power to influence how corporations act, so shareholders are beginning to flex their muscles to combat excessive boardroom pay. But this is not an end to the matter.
The recent episode at Corus’ AGM – where the proxy votes of pension fund managers ensured directors received big bonuses a
day after announcing major job losses – illustrates the limited power of ordinary shareholders. Legislation to curb excessive boardroom pay should not be ruled out.
Declan McHugh, Altrincham and Sale
Dear Progress
The war in Iraq is over, yet there is much rebuilding to be done both there and at home in our party. No Labour party member mourned the tumbling of Saddam, but a significant proportion of them have been angered at the lack of debate witnessed in the party between members, ministers and senior MPs. If we are to avoid further internal damage to the party, and ensure unity on fundamental issues, we must make inclusive and open discussions central to the operation of the party. The party needs to hold debates on how best to reconstruct and re-democratise Iraq – a major task requiring efforts from the international community co-ordinated through the United Nations.
Michael Nicolaides, chair, Camden Young Labour
Dear Progress
The decision by the cricketing authorities to play a World Cup match and a test match series against Zimbabwe smacks of moral hypocrisy. While we (justly) went to war with Iraq over Saddam’s appalling record of causing the death of over a million people, we should remember that six million people are facing starvation in Zimbabwe. This is not just a case of mismanagement or drought: the ZANU-PF militants who control the grain supply are deliberately starving Zimbabwe’s people. This is in addition to years of unchecked corruption, beatings, intimidation, torture and murder by government agents. Britain cannot stand by while these abuses continue. Pressure must be brought against Zimbabwe and her neighbours, not least South Africa, to bring tyrants such as Mugabe to justice.
Alex Bigham, Vauxhall
Dear Progress
The views of some members of the Labour party on Israel make me very uncomfortable. As a supporter of the Israeli Labor Party, I am certainly no fan of Likud, and believe in a viable Palestinian state. However, I am not naïve enough to simply lay the blame for recent troubles solely on Israel, something many in the party do. If they truly understood the situation, they would see that Israel is in an incredibly difficult situation. It faces near daily terror attacks and yet still has to negotiate with those who do not always condemn such atrocities. The pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel bias of the majority of the left of centre press doesn’t help, and feeds the growing misconceptions people have towards Israel. It must not be forgotten that Ehud Barak, in August 2000, was willing to offer roughly what the road map now proposes, yet this was rejected by Arafat. For over two years there has been a vicious cycle of violence in the Middle East, and I do not condone Israeli killings in civilian areas. But it should not be forgotten that Israeli civilians are purposefully and regularly targeted and that since 3 May 2003, when the Palestinian leadership accepted the road map, there have been fifteen terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. Sensible debate is now needed – not the rabid criticism of Israel that I see so often in the Labour party, worn like a badge of honour by some. If they really want to end the suffering in the Middle East, then perhaps they should try to understand the situation a little more from both sides, refraining from the heavy-handed anti-Israel rhetoric.
Jennifer Gerber, Streatham