A drifting Government and a hopeless opposition: where do true Tories go now?

SIR – I suspect I am among the majority of voters in being greatly disappointed by this Government, which lacks the drive and focus to slash bureaucracy, encourage growth and make the most of Brexit.

In addition, we have a Prime Minister who, for all his charisma, is proving to be lacking in judgment.

Given that I could not vote for Sir Keir Starmer, a man who tried to overturn a democratic vote and backed Jeremy Corbyn to be prime minister, I feel disfranchised.

I shall not vote in May. My fear, however, is that the inevitable drubbing that the Government will receive will still not be enough to persuade it to return to Conservative priorities.

Ron Butcher

Great Dunmow, Essex

SIR – Boris Johnson has shown more leadership in supporting and arming Ukraine than any other Western leader. It comes as no surprise that he is high on Vladimir Putin’s list of enemies.

In leading the campaign to have Mr Johnson deposed as a result of “Partygate”, Sir Keir Starmer has become the Kremlin’s latest useful idiot. No doubt Mr Putin approves of his efforts.

Martin Fielding

Richmond, North Yorkshire

SIR – I voted Conservative until Boris Johnson was elected leader.

Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that more fines will come, probably of a higher value. It’s sickening to see ministers following the script and supporting him.

Mr Johnson should step down now. He has a deputy who can step up, and an excellent Defence Secretary who can lead the response to the Ukraine crisis.

A Prime Minister who misleads Parliament cannot be excused.

Mervin Milton

Romford, Essex

SIR – During the two years of the pandemic, I witnessed many cases of the rules being broken.

For instance – staff at my brother’s care home taking a well-earned coffee break on a couple of benches outside, in their uniform, but doing their job. A group of policemen following a road accident, some unmasked but nevertheless doing their gruesome job. A group of teachers taking a welldeserved tea break during playground duty, again doing their job. Ambulance drivers outside the casualty department of the local hospital, drinking from cups, but also doing their job. Nurses sitting outside and having a break. Back-garden family parties without masks. I myself broke the rules, having failed to realise, while doing the job of burying my brother, that the undertakers and attendant grave digger took us over the permitted number of people at the cemetery.

I am certain that there are very few people who did not witness rules being unwittingly broken, and that many knowingly broke the rules themselves.

I seem to remember the saying: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”. Am I the only person who thinks the hounding of politicians is mostly being done by those seeking vengeance? There are serious problems in the world, and we should be more concerned about war than bottles of wine.

Michael Flood

Staplehurst, Kent

SIR – I cannot see how any government can function effectively if subjected to the levels of pettiness and faux outrage being displayed by the opposition.

It has become embarrassing, and if this becomes the standard for future opposition parties the House of Commons will be unmanageable. James Lawlor

Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire

SIR – If only our MPs had spent as much time this week on sorting out the cost-of-living crisis as they did on Partygate.

Simon Morpuss Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire