• I WAS surprised to see Katherine Bligh’s letter (Why wasn’t there an all-women shortlist for the Labour leadership? January 23) advising members of Holborn and St Pancras Labour Party how to vote.

If I am not mistaken, she is not a member of our constituency. Last time I looked she was in Tulip Siddiq’s constituency – Hampstead and Kilburn. I would never have the temerity to tell them whom to support, so why is she telling our members who to vote for in the Labour leadership contest?

I also was struck by the decision of Camden Momentum to advise Holborn and St Pancras members whom to support, (Sir Keir is making an opportunistic tilt to the left, January 16).

It is worth pointing out that Momentum is not affiliated to the Labour Party. Unlike the Fabian Society, which helped found Labour back in 1900, or the Jewish Labour Movement, which has been an affiliate for a century, Momentum is a private organisation, with no official status within the party.

Momentum’s attack on Keir Starmer was not just sectarian, it was riddled with errors. Take the example of the tragic shooting by the police of the Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes.

The letter states that Keir approved the decision to not bring charges against police for his death. In fact, the decision not to prosecute an individual police officer in this case was made by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2006, two years before Keir became the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The letter goes on to perpetuate the myth that Keir’s appointment as DPP signalled a fall in the number of prosecutions and convictions for crimes involving rape and sexual violence.

As anyone who has ever had anything to do with Keir will know, this is one of the issues he feels most strongly about and has worked on most assiduously. His determination has been applauded by the victims of these crimes. When he left office as DPP in 2013 prosecutions for these appalling offences were at their highest.

That Momentum does not share Keir’s political views is one thing, but to indulge in smears and fabrications is quite another. Perhaps Momentum should observe what is actually happening within the party.

By the midday on Sunday, Keir had the support of 40 of the 68 constituency parties that had decided who to support for leader – far more than any other candidate. Ordinary members are making their own minds up, without outside advice.

Holborn and St Pancras Labour Party will be meeting on Monday February 3 to decide whom to nominate for leader and deputy leader. I would urge all members and supporters to come to that meeting.

MARTIN PLAUT
Ryland Road, NW5