‘I have ditched my membership of the Labour Party and have lost faith in Sir Keir’

• NOT long ago you published my letter encouraging support for Sir Keir Starmer, (Sir Keir Starmer is the best chance for change, July 31, 2020).

Sadly since then I have ditched my membership of the Labour Party and have lost faith in Sir Keir. I find I can no longer support him, not least as I fail to understand what his agenda is.

I had reluctantly come to terms with his voting to trigger Article 50, found it hard to forgive his whipping Labour to vote with the government in favour of the “deal” (instead of abstaining) but reluctantly accepted his wish to be a “constructive” opposition.

I believed that when push came to shove he would challenge the government when its actions or statements were blatantly misleading. Water under the bridge you may say.

However with the so-called protocol for Northern Ireland coming undone (as was predictable) and with violence back on the streets of Belfast, Sir Keir merely suggests approaching the PM for a cross-party attempt to find a solution.

This is not the time to appease. This is the time to challenge the PM for his deliberate pretence that there would never be a border between NI and the rest of the UK.

There have been, and will be, countless times when the PM should be unambiguously called out for his well-known dishonesty. Surely the job of the opposition is to do just that?

Meanwhile as the NHS works non-stop to vaccinate the population, the PM dresses up in a white coat as a lab worker, nurse, doctor or even infant school teacher giving the illusion of being at the cutting edge of vaccine science or education; and hoodwinks the public into believing in him.

With no robust opposition, his popularity has soared and has left Sir Keir standing. If the Labour Party is to regain the popularity it had when Sir Keir was first elected, it must show leadership.

We need to know what party and leader stand for. Treading a cautious line of non-commitment, appeasement, and Mr Nice Guy just creates frustration.

When first elected, the palpable sigh of relief could be heard across the party. We thought we finally had an electable opposition that could call the government to account, demand transparency, and challenge dishonesty.

The deterioration in Northern Ireland is a prime example of the need for a robust opposition. Where is it? We believed and hoped under Sir Keir’s leadership a change for the better would be brought about.

We now need to know what that change might look like and be convinced Sir Keir is the one to deliver it.

J HASSID, NW1