​Red Robbo was not all that red - Letters for May 19

On reading Rich Von Duisberg’s earlier letter about the late Derek Robinson, I had some reservations about the research methodology of seeking input from random readers of the Express & Star. My reservations are perhaps justified by Alan Etheridge’s response (17 March). Essentially, that response is based on memories from half a century ago, with Mr Etheridge honestly admitting that he is unsure what his own job was at the time or whether sackings at one of his workplaces were a result of strikes at (British) Leyland or Ford. If the latter, the issue obviously had no connection with Robinson. Like Mr Etheridge, I have my memories of working life in the 1970s, including such manifestations of allegedly excessive union power as the absence of zero-hour contracts and the gig economy.

I believe that the consensus of scholarly opinion is that “Red Robbo” was not half so red as he is portrayed. A swift Google search throws up an obituary in the vapidly centrist Guardian, which was reasonably even-handed, as was a Wikipedia entry, with citation of sources. What is immediately obvious from the latter is that Robinson, while a conscientious union representative, was connected with an arguably bureaucratic approach to industrial relations typical of the Communist Party at that time. 

The article cites statements of his that would have been very close in content to utterances of figures like Bill Jordan, routinely described as “moderate” at the time, while Robinson was trenchantly criticised from the left for what was perceived as his excessive collaboration with employers.

What is perhaps most remarkable about the article is its citation of a BBC article from 2000 – more than two decades after Robinson’s acrimonious departure from British Leyland. 

This testifies to Robinson’s long afterlife in the heads of his enemies. Incredibly, BBC hacks were questioning the then septuagenarian Robinson about whether he was responsible for BMW’s sell-off of the plant. 

That article does, however, conclude with what might serve as Robinson’s obituary in his own words: “I can sleep sound at night because I never betrayed the workers I was elected to represent.”

Alan Harrison,  West Midlands

Be thankful for our democracy

The recent local elections have, in a small but necessary way, reminded us of our vitally democratic methods.

We can now rely on our elected officials to accomplish their promises. Imagine, for a horrid moment, we were like America, having a wild, lying felon in total charge of the country. If you dare to question an obvious lie, you will be sacked and have abuse and threats thrown at you.

He is backed by a team of sycophants who will do his bidding without question. It's called a dictatorship with all that implies. What sort of person would follow him? Appearing at many of his lying rallies, and wildly praising each other and promising the crowds things that would improve their lives. All never to happen, of course, unless you are among the very rich. What sort of untrustworthy person would dare to ask for your votes in the UK after backing a dictator like Trump? Not a person to be trusted, but somehow we have ignored all the warnings, and some have voted for a lying, out-of-control dictator follower. Yes, it seems that the same person who lied about the wonders of Brexit has arisen again fag and beer in hand with that smirk of the self satisfied as the UK tries to get back into the EU . to negate the lies the leavers sold some of us.

Roger Cain, Clee Hill