Why Conservatives won’t vote Conservative

SIR – The Prime Minister has been spineless in the face of the EU, then, and the Cabinet has been spineless in the face of the Prime Minister – and Boris Johnson (Comment, April 29) engages in special pleading on behalf of council election candidates by begging us not to take it out on them.

Could he suggest other means by which we can register our anger?

Bert Howell

Crockenhill, Kent

SIR – The Conservatives appear to know that they are going to lose votes. But have they any idea of the scale that the loss will be? I think not. David Watt

Oakley, Buckinghamshire

SIR – Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. (Think of the present tactic: never mind the Huawei decision, find the mole).

The Conservative Party under the present leadership is beyond redemption. If Conservative MPS are not prepared to do something about it even at this late stage, they will deserve the consequences and be responsible for the arrival in Downing Street of a cynical Labour government willing to sup with any political devil.

If it was only the Conservatives’ future at stake, this might not matter, as a more genuinely conservative movement would be bound to arise eventually from the ashes. Much more worrying is the price we will all have to pay until this happens.

To have brought this about by sheer incompetence, from such a promising start, in only three years, is almost beyond belief or parody. Written as a conspiracy story, no one would believe it. Bryan Clark

Ludlow, Shropshire SIR – The point of the Conservative Party in the 21st century must be to reassert itself as the unequivocal champion of freedom, opportunity and prosperity. Ironically, this is a task made easier by a free-trade Brexit (Robin Harris, Comment, April 27).

The party’s fundamental error has been to interpret Brexit as a political project, not an economic one. Far too few politicians, economists or commentators have been willing to articulate the overwhelming and palpable case that Brexit will compel the UK to become more efficient, productive and competitive. This will necessitate lower taxes, fewer regulations and greatly enhanced global trading opportunities.

A clean-break Brexit will hugely incentivise entrepreneurial risktaking, unleashing new business opportunities and higher living standards across the board, mirroring the 1980s Thatcherite reforms, which, lest we forget, were likewise universally derided by the Establishment, including a substantial minority of Tories.

The next Conservative leader must be both a resolute Brexiteer and radical free-marketeer, with the political nous and dogged determination to restore urgently the party’s reputation for competence and common sense.

Philip Duly

Haslemere, Surrey

SIR – Given the ineptitude of this Government, I am reminded of this quotation from Ronald Firbank: “The world is so dreadfully managed, one hardly knows to whom to complain.”

As there is nobody, who will vote in the various upcoming elections?

Dr Paul Williams

St Keverne, Cornwall