Theresa May’s quiet, competent leadership is more valuable to Britain than shallow charisma

SIR – When it comes to prime ministers, we should be careful what we wish for.

Tony Blair, for example, was very good at presentation, and he was popular (at least at the start). However, it is hard to argue that he was a successful Prime Minister. Britain’s finances are still recovering from 13 years of New Labour.

Despite her poor presentation, Theresa May has handled the issues facing the country well. I prefer that to presentation without substance. Barry Smith

Loughborough, Leicestershire

SIR – Those calling for Mrs May to resign have failed to offer an alternative.

Before demanding her replacement, there needs to be an alternative leader who will command support across the Conservative Party. Tony Marris

Lostwithiel, Cornwall SIR – If it was not obvious before, it must be obvious now that the Tories need a new leader, as soon as possible.

Enough of the dithering, low-key Mrs May. The party – and, above all, the country – need a leader with a big personality who can galvanise the Government and the public, deliver confidence and deliver Brexit.

Forget David Davis and forget Philip Hammond. We need Boris Johnson – and, in the longer term, Jacob ReesMogg, who should be quickly inducted into Mr Johnson’s cabinet, along with Brexiteers such as John Redwood. Dr Richard Clark

Durham

SIR – Mrs May has been a disastrous Prime Minister. She needlessly threw away a working majority, and she allowed her thuggish advisers to undermine the principles of cabinet government by bullying ministers.

Her determination to fight another general election puts personal hubris before the good of the party. Peter Forrest London N6 SIR – Ruth Davidson is articulate, engaging, optimistic and energetic. She has a clear vision, and answers questions unambiguously.

Compare her attributes to those of other senior Tories, including our extremely poor Prime Minister. It is time for Mrs May to accept that her current job is beyond her and make way for a more capable leader. Clifford Baxter

Wareham, Dorset

SIR – Mrs May has shown such stoicism in continuing as Prime Minister, despite vitriolic reporting from the media and the efforts to sabotage her speech at the Tory conference.

She dealt with the stupidity of the “prank” with humour, and overcame her cough in a manner that would have left a lesser person in despair.

When the result of the EU referendum that he had instigated did not suit him, David Cameron took the coward’s way out and resigned. He should have led the country through whatever lay ahead. Fortunately Mrs May did not choose that course after the general election. If those in her Government plot to oust her, this country will suffer when it is bankrupted by Marxist ideals. Judith Rogers

Raunds, Northamptonshire

SIR – The Prime Minister cannot be blamed for having a cold, or for childish pranks and poor glue.

However, she can be blamed for using free-market rhetoric to present socialist policies (such as more council housing and price controls in the energy market). The problems she rightly identifies can only be resolved by less government interference, subsidy and regulation – not more.

If the Tory party allows itself to be led by a statist for much longer, it will lose the next general election, with horrendous consequences for Britain. All Mrs May does is give credibility to Labour’s nonsensical belief that government knows best. Tim Janman London W6