Editorial Comment:
SIR – There is only one person who has the charisma, voter appeal and belief in Brexit necessary to lead the Tories against Labour’s Marxist threat.
Theresa May should resign and make way for Boris Johnson.
Solihull
SIR – Boris Johnson can sell a vision: a London with efficient public services, an independent country that can compete in the global arena and, now, a government that gets out of people’s way and allows them to thrive.
It is time for him to throw his hat into the ring and directly challenge Theresa May – or to throw in his towel and give us all some peace and quiet.
Oswestry, Shropshire
SIR – There is something wonderful about Mr Johnson’s prank of running through a field (report, October 2). Conservative members are likely to have differing opinions on it: some will laugh, others will be furious.
However, what is most significant is the contrast with Labour: if any party member lampooned Jeremy Corbyn in this way, the bully boys would be at their door within minutes.
The Tories have got plenty to do to improve, but they do not rule by intimidation, and the freedom they express is the lifeblood of this country.
Mawnan Smith, Cornwall
SIR – I read your description of the events at the National Conservative Convention meeting with surprise (“May booed and heckled by party members during speech on Chequers plan”, report, October 2).
I chaired the meeting, was on stage throughout and witnessed no booing. The Prime Minister walked on to a prolonged standing ovation that rendered my introduction redundant. She spoke briefly, then took questions for 45 minutes. These were respectful and the answers thorough. The very last question from the floor concerned loyalty in the parliamentary party, and mention of the word “loyalty” generated a warm round of applause.
This is a true and accurate version of events, although I appreciate that it does not fit everyone’s narrative.
Chairman, National Conservative Convention
Epsom, Surrey
SIR – The Chequers plan is dead. It doesn’t give control back to the British people and it is unacceptable to the EU. Polls show that the public reject it.
There is an alternative, articulated by the Prime Minister in her Lancaster House, Florence and Mansion House speeches. A Canada-plus free-trade deal would give back control of borders, laws, money and trade to the British people. We would no longer pay large contributions to the EU budget, and there would be no hard border between the UK and Ireland.
A Canada-style agreement has already been offered by the EU as a basis for our future trade. It would command a majority in Parliament.
Brexit is a global event. We have looked at it solely through the EU lens and missed the fact that it is really about embracing trade and regulatory policy for the first time in 40 years. We need to implement a full trade strategy now – in parallel with EU talks.
Our approach to the EU needs to be proactive, putting “text on the table”. We should propose a free-trade agreement with regulatory recognition. Only this retains Britain’s independent trade and regulatory policy. We should be applying to join the Trans-pacific Partnership and pushing for a US-UK free-trade agreement. It is time to abandon Chequers and prepare for a Brexit that will deliver control and prosperity.
Managing Director, Thorncliffe Chairman, Fifield Glyn Ltd Managing Director, Reidsteel
Hillhouse Nexus Ltd and 13 others; see telegraph.co.uk