What if Theresa May had just stepped back and let a Labour coalition descend into chaos?
SIR – Theresa May has been unwise in trying to form a minority government with the Democratic Unionist Party. She should have reflected on her narrow victory, then returned to the sidelines and let Jeremy Corbyn lead a coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrat, Scottish Nationalist and Green MPS.
It would not take them long to start squabbling with each other. Chaos would reign supreme and the Tories would be in a position to pick up the pieces – not necessarily under Mrs May’s leadership. Hugh Jones
Cardiff
SIR – Mrs May had to get rid of her advisers. Exit Timothy and Hill. But readers of Shakespeare will recall that the exits of Bushy, Bagot and Green were not enough to avert the abdication of King Richard II. Hari Thorpe
Swanage, Dorset
SIR – Why is a prime minister who has lost her majority, been pressurised to sack the two architects of that loss, and been forced only now to listen to other members of the government still in office?
She is still there, moreover, at the start of the most important negotiations for 40 years.
For the sake of the nation – and herself – she should go now. To delay will only make it worse for everyone. John Christopher Hall
Birmingham
SIR – Someone in her Cabinet should tell her: “Enough is enough.” Peter William Brown
Whyteleafe, Surrey
SIR – Am I alone in wondering what Andrea Leadsom’s innermost thoughts are at this time? John Harvey
Haslemere, Surrey
SIR – Theresa May should leave tomorrow because, unfortunately, she has shown herself not to be up to the job: she is a mate not a skipper.
She should be replaced immediately, with no fuss, by someone with a thick skin, with charisma and charm, well-liked worldwide and in the UK, with knowledge of international and domestic politics, who has had jobs other than in politics, and who is capable of negotiating the best Brexit for us. It has to be Boris Johnson.
Do it quickly and quietly, and it will fit in smoothly. Diana Spencer
Herne Bay, Kent
SIR – I was very impressed with Amber Rudd’s performance in the lead-up to the election. Deirdre Lay
Cranleigh, Surrey
SIR – I spoke at a number of hustings during the election campaign. In an excellent briefing (Notes for Speakers), issued by the Conservative Research Department, candidates were, inter alia, reminded that 2.9 million extra jobs had been created since 2010; 1.8 million more children were now in good or outstanding schools; there were a million more businesses; the proportion of those aged 16-24 who had left full-time education and were unemployed was (at 5.1 per cent) a joint record low; four million of the lowest paid had been taken out of income tax altogether. And so on.
What was the point in producing such a upbeat document if it was never used by national speakers? Peter Forrest
London N6
SIR – Notwithstanding the abject Conservative manifesto and campaign, the fact is they remain the largest party, and the only one remotely able to form a government. Yet the party that finished second, 56 seats behind, is now acting as if it had actually won, demanding, from its leader downwards, its rightful reward of forming a government.
What next? Spurs demanding to be crowned Premier League champions for 2016-17, or La La Land being awarded the Oscar for best film? John Ball
Shoebury, Essex
SIR – Regrettably this election has proved that so-called “British values” of support for democracy, the rule of law and tolerance of other beliefs are a delusion. Over 12 million people, including a majority of young electors, voted for a party that is anti-semitic, with a leader who has promoted terrorists. They should be ashamed. Paul Strong
Claxby, Lincolnshire
SIR – Despite the failings of the Conservatives’ campaign, does anyone else feel faintly queasy at the sight and sound of a smug George Osborne, once a close colleague of Theresa May, taking every opportunity to discredit her personally and politically? Karen Mccleery
Kings Worthy, Hampshire
SIR – The Andrew Marr Show gave great prominence to George Osborne and Michael Heseltine. Why was I reminded of Ted Heath? Was it the self-satisfied smiles or the venom? Janet Milliken
Folkestone, Kent
SIR – The Conservative manifesto undertook to leave the EU single market, customs union and control of the European Court of Justice. Scottish voters elected Ruth Davidson and her Scottish colleagues on that promise.
In Scotland’s case, leaving the Common Fisheries Policy was also a significant factor. Reneging would destroy her credibility with those voters and undo all the good she has done for the Conservatives in Scotland. Neil Harvey
London SE8
SIR – Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, has spoken of being on the side of an “open” Brexit.
The country was not asked to vote on an open or closed, hard or soft Brexit. We were asked whether we wanted to remain in the EU or leave it. One of the main reasons for leaving was to regain control of our borders.
Many people in Scotland and the rest of the country voted Conservative as they wanted Theresa May as Prime Minister and they trusted her to carry out these negotiations.
Ms Davidson should, perhaps, keep this in mind. Jean Finnie
Edinburgh SIR – Does it have to be Mrs May to head the Brexit negotiations, or could she now be replaced by another senior member of Cabinet, say David Davis? Doona Turner
Horsham, West Sussex
SIR – Some of your columnists and certain members of the Conservative Party argue that Mrs May’s failure to get an absolute majority affects the character of the Brexit that we must seek, as well as the authority of Britain in negotiating with the EU.
Some hopeful Remainers even suggest the House of Lords might block it despite the manifesto commitments of the overwhelming majority of MPS.
In reality the authority rests on the decision of the British people in the referendum, while the strength of our negotiating position relies on the advantages of free trade. The EU needs a deal whereas Britain can prosper without a deal.
These truths have not been affected by the poorly run campaign nor by the outcome of the election. You cannot vote away the facts. Andrew Smith
Epping, Essex
SIR – How long will it take for it to dawn on us what a great result this election has delivered?
Both the Conservatives and Labour have confirmed that their aim will be to deliver full control of our laws and our borders, which is all that any of us ever wanted from Brexit. PRO-EU parties like the Lib Dems, Scottish Nationalists and Greens have all been sidelined.
None of the half-baked social policies proposed by either Mrs May or Jeremy Corbyn will be enacted before they are properly considered and costed. The students who selfishly skewed the election result in places like Canterbury need not be rewarded.
Scottish unionists have saved the Union. The new prominence of Irish unionists will ensure a good resolution of the Irish border issue, hopefully involving free trade.
David Davis will continue to lead the Brexit negotiations. He will have a freer hand to do what is best than he had before, constrained by Mrs May’s kitchen cabinet.
Jean-claude Juncker and Michel Barnier may chortle at Mrs May’s humiliation, but this election will do nothing to strengthen their negotiating position or to prevent Britain from going forward to enjoy a prosperous future outside of the EU. David Watt
Brentwood, Essex
SIR – My village near Canterbury had a Conservative MP for over 100 years without a break, until Thursday. We now have a Labour MP, whom no one I have spoken to has never heard of, although I am sure she is perfectly pleasant and competent.
We have three universities in Canterbury, with many thousands of students: over 8,000 new people registering to vote. These students have the right to vote in our constituency, but at the end of term, they go home. This leaves local people with an MP whom we would not have elected.
The law allowing students to vote as at present is totally unfair to the real locals and must be changed. David Hodges
Ickham, Kent
SIR – The settled population of Warwick and Leamington, who would be expected to return a Conservative MP, have been usurped by the targeting of 20,000 students at Warwick University, many of them transient residents of the constituency.
The manifesto pledge to abolish student fees and restore maintenance grants amounted to a “gift” of £30,000 that proved an irresistible offer. John Smart
Wolston, Warwickshire
SIR – My MP, who has worked tirelessly for the local people in this part of Bristol for many years has lost her seat. Bristol has two universities with a total student population of 50,000, each with a right to vote here in Bristol.
Gathered closely in one place, they were vulnerable to highly motivated activists plugging ideologies based upon emotion rather than intellect. Democracy is much more than just a visit to a polling station. In effect many of us in Bristol have become disfranchised by this huge number of transient voters. Duncan Bradbury
Bristol
SIR – It would be reasonable that students should be issued with postal votes for the duration of their study course, to be registered and recorded in the constituency of their previous home of 12 months before starting the course.
In this way, we would avoid the imbalance of voting patterns, such as occurred in Cambridge, Canterbury, Ipswich and several other constituencies which, as a result of student antics (or enthusiasm), destroyed the normal representation of the local population. Martin Sobey
Dartmouth, Devon
SIR – Alarm! The country is on the brink of total female domination. Diversity is all very well and equality is an admirable ambition, but, please, no more female leaders in the United Kingdom.
Now Ruth Davidson is changing into a blue Nicola Sturgeon, and we have a record number of female MPS in Parliament. The country should tremble at the inevitable catfights and indecisive outcomes to every parliamentary proposal. The female of the species may hunt in packs occasionally, but won’t seriously support each other in a pinch – we are simply not built that way.
Carwyn Jones is the last man standing. Margaret E Chappell
Saltash, Cornwall
SIR – One good result this week has been my loss of four pounds in weight. Lack of sleep and stress have all worked well for me. I’m calling it my Corbynphobia Diet. Michael Durham
Worthing, West Sussex
SIR – Is it OK for me to blame Mrs May for breaking my diet? I have spent the day comfort-eating on account of what she has done to my country. Margaret Wilson
Ferndown, Dorset