Conservative heavyweights must rally to champion their policies and hold Labour to account

SIR – Am I alone in thinking we should be electing a government, not a president? The Tory strategy of pursuing a single issue – competence in Brexit negotiations – fronted single-handedly by the Prime Minister, to the exclusion of all other policies and politicians, is failing to resonate with the electorate.

Where is the criticism of Labour’s ruinous tax-and-spend economic policy? Where is the rational explanation of Conservative welfare reforms rebutting the “dementia tax” slurs? More importantly, where is the Tory front-line team? Amber Rudd, David Davis and Liam Fox are all very competent speakers who outshine the Labour supporting cast.

Tory strategy must change – now. A more comprehensive attack on Labour policies mounted by a wider range of speakers is needed if the Tory poll lead is not going to dwindle to zero. L N Randall

Denham, Buckinghamshire SIR – As a lifelong Tory supporter, I

believe in small government, low taxes and free enterprise.

These tenets, which appeal to most people, seem to have been abandoned, and the Tories’ plunge in popularity is a clear result. A Right-of-centre position is what is required – not a lurch to the Left. Anthony Smith

Midhurst, West Sussex

SIR – Theresa May needs to let Boris Johnson out to make some positive speeches, rally the troops and cheer us all up. Mary Dufort

Uckfield, East Sussex

SIR – Young people must be told that a Jeremy Corbyn premiership would put a heavy debt burden round the necks of their children and grandchildren, with a plunging pound, sky-high interest rates and not even the British buying Labour “bonds” – not to mention the danger to their own jobs. Claire Bushby

East Horsley, Surrey

SIR – I have been disappointed by Mrs May’s personal and demeaning remarks about Mr Corbyn.

The Conservatives still don’t seem to have noticed that he never hits back and maintains a dignified silence. The more they jeer at him, the more they are playing into his hands. Penny Ann Mckeon

Henfield, West Sussex

SIR – I wish that Mrs May, instead of simply defending Brexit, would expand on how it will open up tremendous opportunities for us to trade internationally.

The world does not revolve around the EU: in many ways it is restricting us. We should be excited by the opportunities ahead, and make sure the country gives Mrs May a clear mandate that enables her to achieve a very good deal for us. David Hartridge

Leicester

SIR – As a former spokesman for Edward Heath until he became prime minister, I have long worried about the publicity attracted by Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s joint chief of staff, and reports that Cabinet ministers were frustrated by his excessive influence.

When I took up my appointment I was invited to write a gossip column piece for London’s Evening Standard, in which I drew similarities between Mr Heath’s grammar school education and my own. When Mr Heath saw this, he told me that my job was to get him publicity, not to get me publicity.

Once an adviser is the story, trouble is not far away. The embarrassing need to explain away the manifesto’s detail on how the costs of social care are calculated was totally unnecessary. Edward Rayner

Eastbourne, East Sussex

SIR – I wonder just how many other awkward folk there are who, like me, answer pollsters with anything but their true voting intentions. Alan Spriggs

Lymington, Hampshire