Letters: The Tory party is doomed – and its own MPs are hastening the demise

SIR – I’m afraid Tim Stanley is right that the Conservative Party is doomed (Comment, October 23). What perplexes me is the self-destructive behaviour on its backbenches. It was given a majority of 80 to enact its policies, but every time the serving prime minister has tried to bring forward sensible legislation to improve the country (on fracking, housing, immigration or anything else), a rebellion has killed it off.

Apart from backing all the absurd pandemic restrictions, Tory MPs don’t seem to have a sense of loyalty anymore, and useful governance has been rendered impossible.

Valentine Guinness
London W12 

SIR – As a Labour supporter, I am obviously gratified by the tremendous results in the two recent by-elections.

The Government and the Conservative Party need to appreciate that this beleaguered country has had more than enough of Right-wing policies. A withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights should not be carried out in our name.

I would also counter the heading of your Leading Article – “Time to be bold, Prime Minister” (October 21) – with “Time to be humble” (as Sir Keir Starmer adjured his jubilant supporters). Extreme boldness led to last year’s kamikaze Budget, from whose effects many people are still suffering.

Judith A Daniels
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

SIR – Sir Keir Starmer must be delighted that Richard Tice has announced that his Reform UK party will stand throughout the country at the next general election. 

The probability is that Reform UK will not win a single seat in Parliament; rather, Mr Tice has made clear that his aim is to kick out the Tories. It is to be hoped that those with Right-wing views, and who are considering voting for Mr Tice’s party instead of the Conservatives, will realise that the likely outcome of their doing so would be to help the Left-wing Angela Rayner become deputy prime minister.

Sir Neville Trotter
Newcastle upon Tyne

SIR – Madeline Grant (Comment, October 22) suggests that people might vote for Reform UK despite knowing little about the party. The problem for the Tories is that this floating voter – who may well not be a representative sample – no longer knows anything meaningful about the Conservative Party.

In the 82 years that I have lived in mid-Somerset, plagued with shifting constituency boundaries, I have never had a Conservative pamphlet put through my letter box. The only knock on my door has been from the Liberal Democrats. Sadly they didn’t know what they were talking about either. Does voter apathy come as a surprise?

Andrew Bond
Wells, Somerset

The meaning of jihad

SIR – The BBC and the Metropolitan Police say that their experts hold that there are a number of different meanings for the word jihad (report, October 24).

A knowledgeable Arabist of a close family acquaintance once told me, while I was studying for a degree in Arabic, that almost all verb forms in Arabic had at least four meanings: the original meaning, the opposite of the original, something to do with a camel, and something obscene. It was a light-hearted way of encouraging me when, inevitably, I struggled.

It may well be the case that the root form jahada has many nuanced meanings around struggle and striving. But the meaning when it is being chanted by anti-Israeli protesters is utterly clear. To suggest otherwise is to employ sophistry and weasel words.

Christopher Wilton
Petersfield, Hampshire 

SIR – I have been sickened for the past week by the anti-Semitic behaviour of a minority of the British public. I think it is time for the silent majority of the public to stand up and be counted, and show British Jews and the Israeli nation that we support them and their fight for existence against the forces of Hamas, Hezbollah and those nations such as Iran that support and fund them. 

The best way to do this is for as many of us as possible to sign the October Declaration petition set up by the newly founded British Friends of Israel (Comment, October 23). 

Richard Muse
Melksham, Wiltshire 

SIR – It is becoming increasingly clear that, following contributions in the House of Commons and in news broadcasts from Left-wing Labour MPs, Sir Keir Starmer is struggling to control the simmering cauldron that is “anti-Zionism” within the Labour Party. Sir Keir himself is finding it difficult to express any view that will not split his party asunder. 

Voters would do well to remember this at the next election.

Richard Allison
Edinburgh
 

Houses at risk of flood

SIR – The consequences of building on flood plains have been known for a long time, and yet the developments continue (Features, October 24). This is basically because they are pushed by developers and permitted by councils. 
Obviously the planning requirements already in force in Scotland and Wales to mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall need to be introduced in England, and quickly. 

However, I would propose another legal requirement to assist those who in their innocence buy houses built on flood plains and find them under water. The costs of making good the damage should be divided between the developers and councils that are responsible for the situation in the first place. That should help concentrate a few minds.

Roger White
Sherborne, Dorset
 

Letters to treasure 

SIR – Thomas Gough (Letters, October 23) reminded me of the first letter we received from our son from prep school in 1974:

“Dear Mum and Dad,
I like it here. Today we went to the lake. I fell in the lake. I am banned from the lake.

Your loving son

Richard Crane”

I still have it and it ranks among my most treasured possessions.

Valerie Crane
Evesham, Worcestershire

Properties to rent 

SIR – Talking about the Renters Reform Bill, Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, said: “There is no evidence at all that the abolition of Section 21, and at the same time the enhancement of Section 8, will lead to any reduction in the number of homes in the private rented sector” (report, October 24).

Letting agents in Guildford have reported a lack of properties for rent, which has resulted in large increases in rents. I have sold one of my properties as a direct result of the proposed removal of Section 21. I may well sell others.

Richard Duncan
Guildford, Surrey

 

Mobile blackspots

SIR – I am disappointed to learn that the Government’s promise to improve mobile coverage in rural areas has been dealt a major setback as operators cannot meet a deadline (Letters, October 24). There will now be a delay of up to two years.
In a village 30 miles south of London, I have no mobile signal. This means that I cannot have a smart meter; nor can various companies send me a password that only lasts for a few minutes. Surely this problem should be a priority.

Deirdre Lay
Cranleigh, Surrey
 

Prison as a deterrent

SIR – In his article, “The Tories are about to rediscover the cost of being seen as soft on crime” (Comment, October 18), Philip Johnston says the first function of prison is to punish. I disagree: in a civilised society, the primary purpose of any punishment should be to act as a deterrent.

Surely I am not alone in remembering that as a child I was driven towards doing the “right thing” only by the thought of what would happen to me if I was caught doing the “wrong thing”.

Stuart Harrington
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset 
 

Dancing queen

SIR – Angela Rippon is doing more for the morale of pensioners than yoga, gym sessions, diets, face lifts or Botox. To see her dance and look that good at 79 gives hope for us all.

After her long career in television and success on Strictly Come Dancing, can someone nominate her for a damehood?

Julia Evans 
Trewellard, Cornwall

How stair-climbing can take you to the very top

SIR – You discuss the benefits of stair-climbing (“How to burn 800 calories an hour and cut your heart attack risk”, Features, October 23).

When I was 16, I heard a member of John Hunt’s successful Everest team state that going up and down stairs was excellent training for mountaineering.

When I was 60, 26 years ago, I realised how unfit I was, struggling breathlessly over Firth Fell from Litton to Buckden, part of the Yorkshire Dales’ Inn Way. Since then, once a week, I have gone up and down three steps 180 times in 15 minutes – simple, cheap and boring, but very effective in improving and maintaining fitness.

It has meant that, at 86, I am fortunate enough still to be able to walk seriously, play golf weekly and sail a firefly regularly.

John Hawkins
Colchester, Essex

SIR – I would now like to give stair-climbing a go, but I live in a bungalow. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Jacqueline McCrindle
Prestwick, Ayrshire

The Falklands wreck that deserves to be found

SIR – I was very interested to read about the coordinated search by Historic England for shipwrecks from the Dunkirk evacuation, which has resulted in three discoveries (report, October 16). 

Readers may also be interested to know that, following inaccuracies in various publications shortly after the end of the Falklands campaign, five years ago I began conducting detailed research into the tragic loss of the landing craft of HMS Fearless, Foxtrot Four. 

She was bombed off Choiseul Sound on June 8 1982, after the attacks on Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram. Six crewmen made the ultimate sacrifice that day. 

My research identified exactly where she was attacked and, importantly, where she was last seen on the surface before a salvage attempt had to be aborted. 

It is of particular note that Foxtrot Four was the only vessel sunk during that campaign that has yet to be located. A search area for the wreck has been established, but no official search for her using modern survey equipment has been authorised and deployed. 

If vessels sunk 83 years ago can be found, surely Foxtrot Four deserves to be located and declared a war grave, as the other losses have been. This would bring some solace to the bereaved families.

Cdr John R M Prime RN (retd)
Operations and Navigating Officer, HMS Fearless, 1981-83
Havant, Hampshire

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