JEREMY CORBYN began his electoral campaign by addressing his supporters and introducing the usual tired themes: the rich vs the poor, the haves vs have-nots and the establishment vs the excluded.

Aligning himself to the politics of class envy, he portrayed the working class as powerless victims in a wicked Tory world.

This might appeal to his card carrying trade union supporters, but what about all of the working class families with aspirations for better lives who want to get on and don't look to the Government for hand outs? His message is patronising and though he talks about inclusion, his views actually exclude a large proportion of the working class that he purports to be the champion of.

Corbyn's views are a throw back to the 1970s when trade unions held sway and the working nation was paralysed. Some of us remember how bad things were then and don't want to go there again.

John Crick, Bishop Auckland.