IT is not surprising that as a member of the Conservative Party, Ian Holland should want to rubbish Jeremy Corbyn (Corbyn is a disaster, March 2).

What Corbyn stands for is the antithesis of Conservative policy — a fairer, juster and more equal society — one that does not engage in wars of choice which can kill, maim and traumatise the British military personnel sent to fight them, does not base its defence policy on the threat of nuclear mass murder, and that would not waste money on military hardware that should go to the NHS.

But — and here is the real paradox — Mr Holland's letter could have been written by a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

The majority of the PLP does not want to transform society, it wants to be the more progressive wing of the Conservative Party, light blue instead of deep blue. Above all, it wants like the Conservatives to engage in foreign wars of choice, to base defence policy on the threat of nuclear mass murder, and to waste resources which should go to fund the NHS on armaments.

Doubt what I say? Do you remember the cheers that went up when Benn gave an impassioned plea for bombing Syria and in consequence some media commentators saw him as a future leader of the Labour Party? Do you remember Owen Smith's endorsement of the threat of nuclear mass murder and his claim that he would press the nuclear button (like Theresa May and Tony Blair)?

The PLP has been rubbishing Corbyn ever since he was elected by ordinary Labour voters. Remember Labour grandees' refusal to serve under him? The shadow cabinet mass resignations? The constant abuse by individual MPs and columnists of so-called liberal media?

The PLP now sees its sole remaining hope of getting rid of Corbyn and resuming business as usual is to ensure that the Labour Party loses so badly at the next election that he will be forced to resign. It is all pretty dreadful — the spirit that animates Jeremy Corbyn animates the Ken Loach of I Daniel Blake and so it is no wonder that Loach is a firm supporter.

But the real tragedy is that such has been the success of the anti-Corbyn campaign that the very people whom Corbyn's policies would benefit are parroting it.

Malcolm Pittock

St James's Avenue

Bolton