What an enormous betrayal. A whole load of selfish MPs, opportunist cabinet members and self-seeking lightweights have destroyed the work of a decent, rational and honest man and prime minister. As a member of the Labour party since 1959, for the first time I am profoundly disappointed by our collective behaviour. We are now going to have a drastic change of government.

Ministers will be changed, policies will change, but will have no time to mature. After two more years, the country will move to the chaotic right. Nothing will have been achieved by this mess. Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner, and their turncoat supporters, will all have played a part in sending the Labour party into the political wilderness for a generation to come.
Arthur Gould
Loughborough, Leicestershire

In the excitement around Andy Burnham, we should not forget the contribution that Keir Starmer has made both to Burnham’s success, and to the potential stability that his success brings. Starmer was seen as a decent, competent, honest, informed politician and people voted for him and his party as a safe pair of hands. Not like Boris Johnson, nor a fool like Liz Truss. He has done his bit to stabilise the UK’s political chaos.

Thank you, Mr Starmer, for doing your best. Enjoy your retirement from an impossible job.
Janet Tomlinson
Andover, Hampshire

Imagine, if you can, a very successful Labour mayor in a large and complex southern conurbation. Imagine that mayor going on to win an unprecedented majority in a rightwing parliamentary seat in the south. Then listen to the commentators saying that this is all impressive, but people in the north need to see him tested there before trusting him to stand for PM. No, I can’t imagine that either.
Maxine Melling
Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire

Well, thank goodness Wes Streeting is out of the running. His statement backing Andy Burnham is full of the same meaningless bureaucratic tosh that has poured in torrents from the mouth of Keir Starmer. And just what this country doesn’t need is more “progressive capitalism focused on wealth creation as much as wealth distribution”. That means more wealth to the wealthy.

What the neglected hardworking millions of this country need is an economy rebalanced away from private profit and towards state investment in public services, utilities and amenities, along with a sustained redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation. And I’m sure Burnham can find a way of saying – and doing – that in way that captures the public imagination.
Tim Burton
Dereham, Norfolk

Whenever a new policy is discussed, the first reaction from politicians often seems to be concern over whether it might cost them the next election, rather than focusing on how it will affect the country, or the benefits it could bring. The public expects them to prioritise the impact on people, not their electability. Hopefully, a new PM will shift the focus. In the end, perception matters, but honest intention matters even more.
Kathir Puvanachandra
Claverdon, Warwickshire

So let’s get this straight – Starmer inherits a poisoned chalice that can’t be turned round in five minutes. The rightwing press relentlessly hammer him daily, so on the famous “doorsteps” he isn’t popular. The Labour party loses its nerve and decides to change leaders. And whoever takes over will be in the same situation with the same limited options. This is no way to run a country.
Jefrey G Pirie
Totnes, Devon

If the midterm changes to Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are anything to go by, this will not end well.
Jonathan Harris
Poundon, Oxfordshire