Prodigal members

SIR – I was amused by Eleanor Patrick’s letter (August 23) about finally paying up for Conservative Party membership and Robert Richards’ letter of the same date referring to the contempt many Conservative MPS have for members.

I was deputy chairman of the North Oxfordshire Conservative Association in 2005. Disgusted that our then MP, Tony Baldry, insisted on a pro-eu view, regardless of what anyone else thought, I left. (I stood as a Ukip candidate in the election of that year.)

I have recently renewed my Tory membership and hope to have a say in the next leadership context.

Weston-on-the-green, Oxfordshire

SIR – How about resurrecting the Ten Bob Tory scheme introduced, I think, by Ernest Marples? It could be updated to “Become a Ten Quid Tory”.

It would be easy for party members to sell to friends, as £25 is a bit high.

Under the old scheme we even went round with the equivalent of a raffle book, which, when complete, was sent to HQ. With today’s technology a similar scheme would be simple to operate. It’s worth a try, to keep Jeremy Corbyn out.