Editor

Given that the Ceredigion Labour Party is packed with supporters of Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum, I was not surprised that they have overwhelmingly endorsed Rebecca Long Bailey and Richard Burgon as their future leader and deputy leader.

Even though Labour suffered a crushing electoral defeat on 12 December and its worst election performance since 1935, the local Labour Party clings on to the misguided view that Corbyn is the most popular Labour leader ever. But the message delivered to Labour last December was clear. They did not want Corbyn.

The next leader of the Labour Party faces a monumental task in trying to win the 2024 election. It needs to win 124 seats, 35 of which were lost by 15 percentage points or more. It takes me back to 1979 which is the last time I remember so many previous Labour voters choosing to vote Conservative. It took three more elections before Labour were once again trusted to form a government and I suspect that it is about to begin a similarly long journey. I am unclear as to who may be the most suitable candidate to begin that journey back to power, but I am clear that Rebecca Long Bailey and Richard Burgon are not the ones to do so.

Mark Rees Clos Sulien, Cae Ceredig, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth

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