May must not alienate the Tory faithful in her pitch for Labour voters

SIR – I wonder if Theresa May and her small group of advisers closeted in Westminster are aware of the fact that each initiative they introduce in an attempt to win over traditional Labour voters risks having the opposite effect on traditional Conservative voters. Paul Harrison

Terling, Essex

SIR – The Tory manifesto pledge to give workers caring for an elderly relative a year off (report, May 15) will be criticised as a cynical way to avoid paying for social care that the Government cannot afford.

What happens if the relative still needs care at the end of that year? Fiona Wild

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

SIR – Fraser Nelson (Comment, May 12) states that “it’s hard to remember the last time that a Tory election campaign was so personalised”.

None of Mrs May’s predecessors put leader before party as she is doing. Even Churchill did not go quite so far. At the 1951 election, which was to restore him to power, he sought a mandate for “a stable government with several years before it, during which time national interests must be faithfully held far above party feuds or tactics”. Its work would not be “biased by privilege”.

The manifesto appeared above his personal signature. But the candidates did not fight as “Winston’s team”. They campaigned for a Conservative and Unionist victory. Lord Lexden

London SW1

SIR – A criticism of Mrs May is that she is saying little or nothing.

However, as the enemy has trained its guns on its own side and fired, why should she waste her own bullets? Andrew Needham

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

SIR – Strong and stable leadership is fine, but the Tories need to address specific claims and policies coming from the Left. First, they haven’t done

enough to rebut the claim that the national debt has grown because they have “bailed out their banker friends”.

Secondly, the Government stands accused of refusing entry to thousands of desperate child refugees.

Thirdly, Mrs May would apparently make reintroducing fox-hunting a priority in the next parliament.

Fourthly, renationalising the railways would put an end to strikes and delays. Dr David Cottam

Montauriol, Lot-et-garonne, France

SIR – On the Today programme yesterday there was a cross-party debate on a variety of policy issues.

When it came to education, Mark Harper claimed that the Tories are spending more than ever. Almost everyone else, including much of the audience, shouted the claim down – but it was not retracted. How on earth is the average voter meant to know who is telling the truth? John Newman

Leicester