Dan Poulter’s defection proves the Tories have abandoned Conservatism
Sir – The most telling aspect of the defection of Dr Dan Poulter – the former Tory minister who crossed the floor on Saturday to join the Labour Party, mere days before the country votes in local elections – is that it demonstrates that there is now little difference between the Conservative and Labour parties. His judgment that Labour is more committed to socialist policies is undoubtedly correct, but it does not disguise the bald truth that the Tories have abandoned Conservatism.
None of this helps me decide who to vote for in the forthcoming election. The Conservatives are a spent force, while the Labour Party would take us back to a 1970s Britain of union power stifling nationalised industries, which would be in further decline because the Labour Treasury would deny them funds to invest. The illiberal and undemocratic Liberal Democrats cannot be forgiven for proposing to ignore the result of the referendum and cancel Brexit, and Reform’s naive policies would reduce taxation but increase government spending. I feel that the party also carries a nasty vein of populism. Help!
Andrew Dyke
London N21
Sir – While I agree with much of Lord Frost’s article (“British politics as we know it is broken. Here’s how we Conservatives must rebuild it”, April 27), I think he’s over-optimistic if he believes that the Tory party can ever revert to true Conservative principles.
I am considering switching my vote to Reform UK, and would encourage true Conservatives to do the same for both the upcoming council elections then the general election later.
The modern Tory party appeals to no one as it’s become little more than a machine for attaining power – and now the machine is itself broken. A party with no basic principles does not deserve to survive.
Stephen Phillips
London W11
Sir – When will Conservative backbenchers learn that the cycle of replacing their leader (“Tory rebels on warpath after MP defects to Labour”, report, April 28) will fail to win over the British electorate, as it shows that they have no concept of the importance of loyalty?
Hon Ian Macgregor
London N2
Sir – Dan Poulter is now a Labour MP, representing a constituency in which 35,000 voted for the Conservative Party, with a majority of more than 23,000.
There is not long to go before the next general election, which will provide the good folk of Suffolk Central and Ipswich North, Dr Poulter’s constituency, an opportunity to once again be represented by the party for which they voted. Surely it is time the situation that allows MPS to change allegiance should be repealed.
Denis Kearney
Lostwithiel, Cornwall