The Tory spectrum

SIR – Roy Perry (Letters, May 5) states that “to win an election a party needs to attract a broad spectrum of support”.

Perhaps Mr Perry – and, it seems, most of what is left of the Conservative Party – haven’t grasped the principle that if you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody.

Andy Bebbington Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire

SIR – Any Conservative MP who crosses the floor to Labour should not have been on the Conservative benches anyway. But Natalie Elphicke’s defection (report, May 10) does highlight how little difference there is between the modern tax-andspend Conservative Party and Labour.

Only when the Conservative Party reverts to traditional Conservative policies will it again become attractive to the electorate at large. The shift starts with ensuring that only truly Conservative candidates are selected to stand for the party.

James Collins Rye, East Sussex

SIR – It is hard to disagree with Natalie Elphicke’s assertion that Rishi Sunak’s Government has abandoned the centre ground. It has moved much too far to the Left.

John Waine Nuneaton, Warwickshire