A future for the Tories

sir – David Cameron was mesmerised by Tony Blair’s approach to politics, and so he dragged the Tory parliamentary party in the same misguided direction, on the spurious grounds of “modernising”.

Mr Cameron’s leadership saw a plunge in party membership from about 280,000 at the outset to about 150,000 when he quit. Theresa May’s disastrous premiership saw a further decline. In contrast, Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party had a membership of about 1.2 million. At general elections, she won majorities of 43, 144 and 102. Mr Cameron’s party could not win a majority at all in 2010 and only managed one of 12 in 2015.

Mrs Thatcher rejected the conventional thinking of Tory “wets”. She moved the centre ground of British politics away from managing decline, nationalisation, high taxation and failing interventionism. Instead, she championed national pride, free enterprise, low taxation and personal liberty. The people loved her for it.

The next Tory leader would be wise to examine recent political history and act accordingly.

Gregory Shenkman London W8

sir – Before the next vote by MPS, could all the leadership candidates confirm on oath that they have read the EU’S Withdrawal Agreement and the political declaration in full, and subject themselves to cross‑ examination by Martin Howe QC on all its negative features, not merely the backstop?

John Birkett St Andrews, Fife

sir – Le Monde, Le Figaro and the rest of the French media are all appalled at the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming our next prime minister. This suggests to me that he may well be the best man for the job.

Anthony Whitehead Bristol