I SYMPATHISE with Allison Hope’s frustration (SNJ letters, August 17) that the Conservatives are in government and creating so much pain for innocent, vulnerable people.

However, I strongly disagree that Jeremy Corbyn is to blame for Labour’s current problems, rather than selfish, self-indulgent MPs refusing to do their handsomely paid jobs.

Under Blair, Labour lost five million core voters – a major reason for the 2010 and 2015 defeats.

Many are now returning to Labour in droves, as they see Corbyn bringing Labour back to the Party’s original values, yet in a forward-looking way.

Corbyn has attracted at least 350,000 new members, which at approaching 600,000 makes Labour Europe’s largest political party.

He has inspired many people, young and old – people with no previous interest in politics, to whom he relates, unlike previous Labour leaders.

All are far more likely to vote for a Corbyn-led party.

In Stroud in 2015, almost one in four voters were not inspired to vote, but Labour lost by just eight per cent.

These non-voters, mostly the poorest in our society, felt the previous Labour Party would be of no help to them.

Corbyn is determined that everyone should have a better life.

The commentariat mythology that has grown up over the 1983 election defeat must be challenged.

Corbyn is not “unelectable” in the same way that Michael Foot lost that election.

The main reason was the Tories’ jingoistic popularity surrounding the Falklands War.

Also the SDP split; today’s MPs mustn’t make the same mistake.

Much of Foot’s manifesto was, indeed, later incorporated by Blair’s government!

In Corbyn’s time nine months as leader, Labour has provided strong and effective opposition, forcing numerous embarrassing U-turns, defeating the Tories at least 22 times and preventing some of their worst excesses.

And all this despite the flagrant and now proven press and TV bias against him, and some Labour MPs continually undermining him.

Under such difficult circumstances, to have accomplished what they have done – winning by-elections with increased majorities, winning four mayoralships, and staying well ahead of the Tories in local elections – is actually an astounding achievement.

If people say they won’t vote for a Corbyn-led party, it’s because they’ve been misled by propagandist press articles and biased TV reports from a privileged Establishment terrified at the prospect of a Corbyn victory.

Once Corbyn’s leadership is re-confirmed, everyone must get behind him with all the support we can muster, to help this lovely man deliver on his vision for a better, kinder, fairer and more equal society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Wanda Lozinska

Stroud