Is Cameron right to reject a third term?

WE’RE all aware some reporters spend time dreaming up questions to trap politicians, and no doubt there are instances when it is necessary. But in general reporters should conduct uncomplicated interviews aimed at eliciting interesting and honest facts rather than trying to show us how clever they are. David Cameron was asked: ‘If you remain Prime Minister after the election, would you go for a third term?’ As to his reply, what was wrong in being honest and saying ‘No’? Thereafter, when pressed concerning a successor, isn’t it likely he would mention a few names off the top of his head? Suggesting this has opened up a succession race is nonsense. All organisations that rely on succession in management identify potential successors in advance. What brought home to me there was mischief afoot was the involvement of Alastair Campbell in the debate. I watched him on Newsnight and listened to the Jeremy Vine show. Listening to the artful way he promotes his arguments was a lesson in deception.

NEIL KELLY, Hove, E. Sussex.

HAVING promised not to go on after two terms, is David cameron now a lame duck? No: the hype around his comments is a daft media frenzy — he’s simply being sensible. All good leaders realise they can’t go on for ever and take steps to ensure their successor is identified well before their own departure date. It’s called succession planning. cameron could stay as leader for the whole of the next parliament. then, in 2019, a contest could be held to appoint his successor. that successor would take over when the 2015/2020 parliament is dissolved and lead the party into the General Election campaign. Surely that’s a better way of managing things than the bitterness that festered between Blair and Brown over the handover in the last Labour government?

D. WILSON, Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, Leics.

DAVID CAMERON knows he doesn’t need to stand for a third term. By then he’ll already have achieved the politician’s goal of fooling most of the people most of the time.

Mrs VALERIE ASHTON, London N14.

WItH the number of true conservatives that cameron has driven away, I don’t think he need bother about a second term, let alone a third.

PHIL NORTH, Brigg, Lincs.