GEORGE Quail (Letters, June 18) is right to question Jenny Hjul's claims ("Why Labour must learn to embrace Blairism again", The Herald, June 16).

New Labour's popularity was destroyed by the same policies it adopted from the Conservatives which it believed won it elections. Especially deregulation, because it was deregulation which allowed the banks to create "innovative" (dodgy) "financial products" like collateralised debt obligations. And it was the realisation that these "assets" held by the banks were actually worthless which led to the banking crisis and subsequent recession. That lost Labour the 2010 election and the trust of many voters.

Even Margaret Thatcher's then Chancellor, Nigel Lawson, has admitted her 1986 "Big Bang" deregulation of the City of London contributed to causing the banking crisis.

The idea that more of the same - adopting every Conservative policy going - will restore Labour's popularity is unlikely. It needs to win back the votes of people who used to be Labour voters but stopped voting, or started voting for other parties, because Labour became Tory Lite.

Ms Hjul also repeats the common myth that Ed Miliband lost this year because he was too left-wing. In fact Mr Miliband's policies and rhetoric barely differed from those of the Blair/Brown era, or those of the Conservative party. His one major radical policy was a nationalised National Investment Bank, which was not even an issue in the election, and is not even controversial for German conservatives like the Christian Democrats. Mr Miliband didn't focus on policies that would encourage people to turn out and vote Labour. He refused even to adopt renationalisation of the railways, despite polls showing two-thirds of voters back it, including a majority of Ukip voters and half of Conservative voters.

If the campaign had focused more on the National Investment Bank and a policy of issuing money to those in need instead of cutting benefits ; and of providing low interest government loans or grants to small and medium-sized businesses and for scientific and technological Research and Design, Labour might have done much better.

Duncan McFarlane,

Beanshields, Braidwood, Carluke.

THE Nuneaton TV debut of the four potential UK Labour leaders was reminiscent of Abba in the final throes of their once glittering career ("First Minister becomes Labour hustings theme", The Herald, June 18). Two females, two males, all formerly in unison, now in complete disharmony as to the future direction of their once-great party. All doubtless sincere in their individual "my way" submissions to succeed. I would suggest none of the quartet sparkled, far less shown as a potential leader.

Possibly Jeremy Corbyn, the left-wing outsider, with his impassioned denouncement of Tony Blair and the Iraq war was best received by the audience.

By the continual use of the first person singular, Ms Liz Kendal's performance was alarmingly Messianic (reminiscent of the late Lady Thatcher in her early years). The bold Liz claimed the Tories "will be in fear of me." Surely an alarming comment for all of us?

Meanwhile, the two main players, Andy Burnham and Yvette Cooper. acquitted themselves without any obvious blunder. However, both failed to inspire. There was an apparent lack of original thinking by both.

Interestingly, the one issue that all four candidates agreed on was the meteoric rise and proven ability of Nicola Sturgeon. In being gracious and fulsome of praise all four acknowledged not only the arrival but success of a national party leader.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.