What’s more not one so far condemns what I did nor what I chose to say about what I did nor indeed my decision

What’s more, not one, so far, condemns what I did, nor what I chose to say about what I did, nor indeed my decision to go public

Blimey. I never expected such an enormous postbag following my column in which I described my disenchantment with New Labour and explained my difficult decision to quit the party And still they come, day after day. What’s more, not one, so far, condemns what I did, nor what I chose to say about what I did, nor indeed my decision to go public.
I am not heroic by nature, and since speaking out I have often woken up in the middle of the night, worrying and coming to terms with the fact that many doors that were previously open will now be smashed shut in my face. Privately, some Labour Party insiders have expressed their sorrow or anger, and one or two seem convinced that I was prompted by cynical or sinister motives. They have yet to understand that people, even little people or greedy, selfish and ambitious people, can sometimes make principled choices, even when they know it might work against their personal progress. And these principles obviously matter to the many people who wrote in.A gentleman from Bedfordshire wrote: “Warmest congratulations on your decision I meet people all the time who have made the same decision.

And as you say the reasoning boils down to the (correct ) perception that Labour cares much more for the rich than the poor and the refugee policies are to always cast the refugee in a negative light. So that the public’s first thoughts will always be ‘bogus’, ‘abusers’ and now ‘vile’.”A teacher from Sussex tried to reassure: “You will feel isolated Don’t. A number of us agreed with you and have decided to write to you so you will not feel alone. There is a moral deficiency in the heart of New Labour.” A Methodist from a church in Sedley, Yorkshire sent a warm letter which began: “I have welcomed you as our guest in our home every week through The Independent Today’s piece must have been a very sad thing to write I expected better from this government. I knew from their past records that Labour have not repealed previous immigration laws they inherited. This time they are implementing policies that their predecessor dreamed up but dared not put into practice.”Another letter from Sussex, from a farmer’s wife: “I voted Labour for the first time in my life last time.

I had not voted in the previous two elections because I thought politics is a dirty business which we give credibility to by voting But in 1997 I truly felt there was going to be a new dawn. As a Christian, I was encouraged that our Prime Minister and his wife were believers. Today they have abandoned Christ’s main principles – that you must show kindness to strangers and treat them as your own.”A young woman from Norfolk sent a post card: “Me too, and three others All in our thirties. I heard Rabbi Neuberger talking about asylum seekers and her worries about their treatment and now you have spoken out.