‘A clique of wealth, power and privilege’

MANY have said Boris Johnson made a mistake in the way he tried to help his friend, Owen Paterson – that is not correct.

It was worse than a mistake – it was deliberate and within his long-term aims.

In my view, what Boris did was use his power to favour his friend. He did the same for Priti Patel, ignoring a report that stated she had bullied her staff.

Thanks to the media, the opposition and a few Conservative MPS, he was not allowed to get away with it this time.

This is part of an active campaign by many Conservatives to change the system further in their favour.

His proposal was to sort the matter by setting up a committee dominated by Conservatives.

But what about the Elections Bill that will give permanent oversight of our elections system by a Conservative-dominated group?

And what about the billions that went into the hands of friends in private companies under the cover of covid last year?

It is part of a move for Conservatives to dominate our nation and quash any debate or opposition.

I feel sad for Owen and his family about what has happened, but they are surely caught up in an agelong attitude that there is nothing wrong in actively being part of a Conservative clique of wealth, power and privilege.

I was made aware of such a clique when I was young and was pleased to see some erosion of that since, but the Prime Minister will lead us back to that.

He is, meanwhile, ‘bribing’ people in red wall areas with council funding to keep them on his side.

I am not saying that Conservatives are all bad individuals, but there is no sign now that they will change the structures of society to help ordinary people – quite the opposite.

NIGEL JONES NEWCASTLE