I WOULD estimate that a significant minority of Labour MPs are republican at heart and the majority are probably indifferent to the monarchy.

I would also suggest that most Labour MPs would agree with the words of the great founding father of the Labour Party, Keir Hardie, who in 1897 during Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee said that “democracy and monarchy are an unthinkable connection”.

Hardie was right then and his words are just as correct today.

Clearly, Britain is not a true democracy when the job of head of state is given to someone who is lucky enough to be descended from an obscure 18th Century German Prince, George of Hannover.

In 1897 when Hardie bravely spoke out against monarchy, it was massively more popular than today.

Contemporary photographs of 1897 show huge crowds in every town centre across the land, including Darlington.

Today, there were no large crowds outside London and the relatively few street parties were modest affairs. In the modern era most people are not bothered about monarchy, and millions are hostile.

Yet despite this turnaround, not one senior Labour MP has condemned the jubilee, thus betraying their own democratic beliefs. Frankly, they are gutless.

John Gilmore, Bishop Auckland WITH all the publicity Stanhope is receiving about its royal tea shop, I would like to thank Joan Potts and her team for the excellent jubilee exhibition at Howden-le-Wear, Crook. This was a fantastic occasion and enjoyed by many visitors. My wife was in the original jubilee parade as an attendant to the Howden Queen 60 years ago – hence our visit.

Joan and her team must have spent many hours preparing the exhibition. Thanks for a wonderful day.

H Thompson (formerly organist at St Mary’s Church, Howden-le-Wear), Grimsby.

THE jubilee coverage has reminded me of seeing Princess Anne at Redcar races many years ago. I had taken a day off work and my wife and I had lunch at Wolviston, which we hoped would be paid for from our winnings at the track.

We had won a few quid on the Tote and in the next race Princess Anne was riding, her 13th race since her last win.

I wanted to bet on her but my wife said we couldn’t bet on someone to end their winless streak at the 13th attempt.

The Princess came in at 50/1 going like a veritable steam train over the finish line.

I have never let my wife forget the day we lost at Redcar.

Malcolm Rolling, Durham