Last seen in the Eighties: a bold, inspiring Conservative leader
SIR – Watching the BBC’s new documentary about Margaret Thatcher, I was struck by the contrast between her and the current Conservative leadership candidates.
Here was a strong and resolute woman, with charisma and presence, who was unafraid to make a decision and stick to it. Most importantly, she had a strategy for the future and was determined to see it through.
Not one of the current crop compares, although the candidates have many common traits: no plans, no vision and no backbone – just the usual platitudes. Steve Eades
Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
SIR – Brandon Lewis, chairman of the Conservative Party (Comment, May 26), is deluded if he thinks that his so-called recruitment drive has increased membership of the party.
I’ll wager that the reason I and 36,000 other people have joined is that we wish to have a say in choosing the next leader and avoid the appointment of another hopeless candidate similar to the one Mr Lewis helped to keep in office. David Fouracre
Napton, Warwickshire
SIR – The Conservative Party has lost its way: it no longer reflects the values that many joined it for.
At the highest levels the party has proved unwilling to take action when it was so obviously needed. Many MPs chose to ignore the result of the EU referendum despite promising to honour it.
The Tory disease of infighting continues, to the detriment of both the party members and the electorate in general. To rebuild the “brand” will take more than the length of any new leader’s tenure, as will regaining the trust of the grassroots. Those of us who left the party as a result of its recent failures will take a lot of convincing to rejoin it. We don’t want the same old, same old anymore. Craig Boorman
Chilham, Kent
SIR – The result of the Peterborough by-election on Thursday has demonstrated that the Brexit Party is more a disillusioned Conservative Party than anything else. Had there been an accord between these two parties, the election would have resulted in a victory for conservatism.
Boris Johnson seems to believe that it is a battle between him and Nigel Farage. That kind of thinking will most probably put Jeremy Corbyn into No10.
The common denominator between Mr Johnson and Mr Farage is a desire for Brexit. If this country is lost to harsh socialism because of their big egos, no conservative will forgive either of them – or any other elected Conservative Party leader – for it is the future of conservatism itself that is now at stake.
It is high time, in the interests of all non-socialists, for the two parties to reach an accord – if not to amalgamate under a new name. Philip Congdon
Poyntington, Dorset