New Tory ideology

SIR – As the Chancellor delivers his Budget speech today, it is clear that the Conservative Party has lost any ideological commitment to shrinking the size of the state.

The party was most successful when it was guided by a commitment to small government. Sadly, it has morphed into a social democratic party which uses the receipts from capitalism to expand government largesse, rather than harnessing the success of capitalism to argue for increased individual responsibility and services provided by the architects of that success.

Oliver Davies

Richmond, Surrey

SIR – Allister Heath asks (Comment, November 16) who still remembers Selwyn Lloyd’s time as chancellor.

In his August 1961 emergency budget, Lloyd put 6d on a packet of 20 cigarettes.

As an impoverished National Serviceman in the Royal Air Force who was paid 7/6d per day, 4/6d per packet of cigarettes represented a lot of money. After a number of failed attempts to stop smoking, this reform galvanised me into action and I stopped immediately, never to smoke a cigarette again.

I have been eternally grateful to John Selwyn Lloyd ever since.

Anthony Asquith

Skipton, North Yorkshire