With reference to Kirk Gowan (Letters, March 27), I would add that the Labour Party, while co-operating with austerity and welfare cuts, is obviously struggling to create clear blue water between itself and the Conservatives.
The coming of New Labour was no doubt popular with Middle England and Scotland but was corrupted by over-zealous commitment to capitalist principles. In order to combat Mrs Thatcher's obsession with privatisation in the 1980s, Labour dropped its ridiculous Clause 4 calling for nationalisation of all means of production. It should now consider revisiting its founding principles with regard to essential services.
Electricity, gas, sewage and water (not in Scotland) are virtually fully privatised. Royal Mail is another to be picked off at a derisory knock-down price. The telecoms industry s now running riot and paying eye-watering monies for television rights.
Despite all the assurances, the NHS is already a two-tier system and moving towards private healthcare. The next and ultimate insult is to read our nuclear industry is to be shared between the French and the Chinese.
The Labour Party need now look no further than the re-nationalisation of the essential services as the clear blue water it seeks.
Mark Lironi,
9 Old Coach Road, East Kilbride.
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