The Conservatives must stake their claim as champions of freedom
SIR – To beat Labour, the Conservatives must become a real centre-Right party, instead of the centre-Left party they are at present.
They need to look to the past for inspiration, and learn from Margaret Thatcher’s passion for the free market and individual freedom. If Conservatives do not believe in these things, they stand for nothing.
I don’t think Britain’s young people are Marxists, but they are attracted to Jeremy Corbyn’s enthusiasm and belief in his message. Tories such as Priti Patel, Daniel Hannan and Boris Johnson understand the importance of these qualities.
The Conservatives must revive the zeal of the Eighties once Brexit is accomplished, and show young people that they are far better off being masters of their own destiny than becoming helpless dependants of the state. Alexis Ochoa
Haywards Heath, West Sussex SIR – Gordon Brown spoke of “prudence” while increasing government spending and borrowing. He clearly didn’t know the meaning of the word.
We have since been hearing the word “austerity”, most recently from Theresa May at the Conservative Party conference. Although borrowing might have fallen, public debt is still increasing, and the cost of servicing our debt is over £50 billion a year.
The political class appears to have a different understanding of words from ordinary people, along with different priorities. I prefer to live within my means and make sure my outgoings don’t exceed my income. Stuart Noyes
Andover, Hampshire
SIR – Following the result of the last election, Theresa May famously said that “nothing has changed”.
This showed a complete disregard for the facts. Her current attitude to the Chequers proposal shows that she still can’t grasp that circumstances have changed. While she may have learnt to dance at Birmingham, nothing has changed. She has to go. James Longman
Christchurch, Dorset
SIR – I am at a loss to understand why Boris Johnson alone is accused of personal ambition. He resigned from the Cabinet on principle, and is now campaigning hard to stop a deal which would make Britain an EU vassal state.
What about Michael Gove’s motives? He certainly has previous form. Now he is suggesting a bad Brexit would be acceptable because a future Prime Minister (who can he mean?) could put it right.
Then there are the more subtle manoeuvres of Jeremy Hunt, whose opinions vary with his audience. He tells Brexiteers in the Cabinet that he favours a Canada-plus agreement; he assures Mrs May that he supports her and her ludicrous plan; and in front of the party conference he compares the EU to the Soviet Union. Mary Lanch
Harrow, Middlesex