I encourage Jeff Hancorn (Letters, December 7) to follow his own advice and "take lessons on Marx, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot".

If he were to do this he would find that these historical characters have nothing in common with the current policies of the Labour Party.

John McDonnell's policies are based on the ideas of J M Keynes and not those of Karl Marx.  

Keynes developed his ideas as a alternative to the greed and incompetence of economic and political elites of the first half of the 20th century.  

Keynesian economics was dominant from the Second World War to the advent of Thatcher's 1979 government and formed the basis of post-war reconstruction in Britain, Europe and beyond.

McDonnell and the Labour Party seek to manage capitalism not to destroy it.

Given the chaotic performance of the current government with its focus on the greed of the few rather than the needs of the many a return to the more pragmatic and humane policies of post-war Britain is long overdue.

STEVEN HANCORN

Peterchurch