Congratulations to Mike Carter on raising such important issues (The country I walked through deserves better than Brexit, 11 February). My husband, Colin Barnett, was – like Mike’s father – also instrumental in organising the People’s March for Jobs, as the then north-west regional secretary of the Trades Union Congress. He spent his working life as an officer of the National Union of Public Employees, which represented the poorest paid members of society, many of whom were women.

His deep belief in trying to improve their pay and working conditions meant he tirelessly spent time travelling to their places of work, talking to them and persuading them to join the union. If he were still alive he would be distraught at what has been allowed to happen, with the destruction of all he fought for and with so little public concern. Why has it taken until now to realise how neglected many communities, especially outside the south of England, have become? What was the Labour party doing supporting contracting out when it was obvious that savings were made by reducing the pay and terms and conditions of the low-paid? Why, when in power, did we do nothing to stop the sale of council houses and other public assets? Why was removing control and assets from democratically elected local authorities to establish academy schools pursued?

Although Labour did implement redistributive policies, it did it almost furtively. Why have those of us who oppose neoliberal economics not found a way to explain what the alternatives might be and find a language that can resonate with a large section of the population?

Dr Hilary Hodge

Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire

• It brought joy to my heart to see Mike Carter mention Naomi Klein’s book The Shock Doctrine. I have banged on about this publication to the annoyance of friends, family and colleagues ever since I read it.

Brexit needs to be understood in the context of the rise of disaster capitalism. We all need to read this book – it is a page-turning thriller. Oops, I just remembered – we’ve had enough of experts. If we are quiet on the way down from the cliff edge to the rocks, we may hear the predators (foreign governments and the financial sector) licking their chops.

Ruth Guthrie

Brigham, Cumbria

• Mike Carter’s long walk through England made depressing reading and, three years on, things feel even worse. There is little to be gained from lamenting past failings, but the leadership vacuum that is responsible for the state we are in needs to be addressed urgently to avoid it being filled by Nigel Farage.

The equally backward-looking alternative comes from those who want a return to Tony Blair’s “third way”. Surely we can do better than this?

Les Bright

Exeter, Devon

• I was too young in 1939-45 to walk 340 miles from Liverpool to London. I was old enough, however, to see the destruction of houses and factories during that time. Nowhere were there people sleeping on the streets and nobody was reliant on food banks. Family, friends and neighbours did all they could to help people bombed out, as did the government emergency services, which provided temporary accommodation in schools and halls.

Everyone was issued a ration book and registered at their local shops from 8 January 1940 (postponed several times owing to a campaign in the press led by the Daily Express newspaper, which called rationing an unnecessary folly). Rationing meant that no matter how rich you were, or who you were (rations applied to the royal family), the food available was equally shared at fair prices.

Victor Gilbert

Pathhead, Midlothian

• Re Mike Carter’s references to neoliberalism, some remainers are prone to accusing Brexiters of being dyed-in-the-wool neoliberals. But nothing better exemplifies neoliberalism than free movement. Remainers can’t have it both ways.

Yugo Kovach

Winterborne Houghton, Dorset

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