Letters: The Conservatives have been punished for neglecting their natural supporters

SIR – The low turnouts in the Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire by-elections (report, telegraph.co.uk, October 20) suggest that many voters feel politically homeless. 

The Conservative Party has continued to ignore its core supporters. While many of them will have stayed at home, I believe that others will have voted for the Reform Party. Had those votes been won by the Conservatives they would have retained their seats. 

Rishi Sunak and his advisers have some serious thinking to do before the general election.

Clifford Baxter
Wareham, Dorset

SIR – The by-election results were a disaster for the Conservatives, but sadly they have only themselves to blame.
With their fixation on reducing inflation they have forgotten all else, especially growth, and as a result the economy is going nowhere.

If the Tories want to avoid total wipeout in the general election, something must be done to help businesses to grow and individuals to prosper. This has to mean tax relief, despite the Chancellor’s insistence that he cannot make any changes.
Furthermore, any fiscal adjustments must be included in the Autumn Statement; leaving it until the Budget next year will be too late, and such measures will simply be seen as an election bribe.

Regardless of difficult external events beyond their control, the Tories have forgotten their core values.

David Vetch
Smallfield, Surrey

SIR – As I read your report (October 18) on Lord Lawson’s memorial service, it was sobering to recall that he was just one of many political giants that we have now lost. It was also heartwarming to recall that “his mission was to set people free to enjoy life – by cutting, simplifying or even abolishing taxes, by privatisation and deregulation, but also by eliminating wasteful spending”.

I do hope the Prime Minister was taking notes.

Alan Rogers
Epsom, Surrey

SIR – Have we just witnessed the backlash to Liz Truss’s shambolic tenure?

Peter Dann
Haslemere, Surrey

SIR – In my distant youth the phrase, “An Englishman’s home is his castle”, was widely quoted. 

Might I suggest that the Conservative Party considers updating this to “A British person’s home is their castle”, and adopts policies accepting that what goes on behind our front doors – provided it is legal – is not the business of government?

Huw Baumgarter
Bridell, Pembrokeshire
 

Safety for British Jews

SIR – I am proud to be British and proud that my family has been since the 19th century, but much as the Government and police are genuinely working hard to protect British Jews, they can’t be everywhere and do everything. 

Over the past few decades we have been monitoring steadily increasing anti-Semitism in the UK, often under the more politically correct disguise of being “anti-Israel”. Recent events have demonstrated that, while much of the British population supports Israel and its people in theory, few stand up for us in practice. It is not hard for us to imagine rioting mobs attacking our neighbourhoods, with police unable to cope, and our schools and synagogues being attacked.

My wife and I have been discussing how we should ensure that all our family members have up-to-date passports in case we need to leave the country urgently. Ironically, however, despite what has happened, Israel is still probably the safest place for Jews, although it is surrounded by hostile states including Iran.

We are anxious when we leave our house, even just to go to the shops. We are nervous of our home being attacked. We recently switched doctors’ surgery after one of the GPs indicated their support for Hamas. Our schools are surrounded by high fences, security guards and police, and can feel like prisons. University campuses do not feel safe to many Jewish students.

I have had only one message of support from a non-Jewish friend I was at university with 20 years ago, and who doesn’t even live in the UK anymore. This situation is the same across much of the world, and I suspect that there is going to be an exodus of Jews from many countries over the next few years unless something changes significantly.

Simon Starr
Manchester

SIR – The 2,000 mostly Lefty luvvies who put their names to an anti-Israel – and anti-support-for-Israel – open letter (report, October 19) are living on a different planet. There was no empathy for or mention of the lives that Hamas has so barbarically taken.

On Wednesday, many senior Muslims living in Britain condemned the slaughter on October 7, which included babies, in a letter seen by Jewish News. But while they also criticised the Israeli military’s use of excessive force, I would add that Hamas, which controls Palestine, wants the total destruction of Israel and its people.

Christopher Hunt
Swanley, Kent

SIR – The headline on your front page, “Our support for Israel is as important as that for Ukraine” (October 20), omits another very important point – which is our support for the poor Palestinian families in Gaza, who have lost everything.

Of course Hamas must be destroyed, but please spare a thought for all the innocent people caught up in this tragedy

Tony Ellison
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

Why a handwritten note is a joy forever 

SIR – Handwriting may already be mostly limited to nothing “longer than a shopping list” (Comment, October 19). I type this as a “leftie” who was never taught how to hold a pen properly, let alone write with one. 

However, I discovered the joys of calligraphy just before the Covid pandemic. It is a glorious art and I use it for the envelopes of thank-you letters – often written far too late, but still more personal than an email – place names at the Christmas table, to personalise any number of other items, and just to relax. 

I would urge others to try this, as like so many “old-style” things handwriting will soon be perceived as a premium product – vinyl as opposed to streaming, the artisan against the mass-manufactured, and the natural fibre against the fleece. On social media, I see that many handwriting or calligraphy posts are by people in their 20s and 30s – my children’s age. I think it will become increasingly treasured.

Tony Parrack
London SW20

SIR – I have just received a lovely, long, handwritten letter from my best friend, who lives two and a half hours from me. We usually talk on the phone, but she says that she wanted to write for a change.

What a joy it was to receive through the post, and I shall use my fountain pen to reply. I hope this form of communication never vanishes.

Robyn Maitland
Sherborne, Dorset 
 

Keep the triple lock

SIR – I was astounded to read your report (October 19) about possible changes to the pensions triple lock. 

British pensioners are among the poorest in Europe. This is something that both of the main political parties are responsible for – but now it appears that the Government wants to make things even worse for us.

If this happens, we will know what to do at the next election.

Terry Swan
South Shields
 

British Gas farce

SIR – I recently attempted to telephone British Gas in order to obtain a refund on money I had been overcharged.

At the other end of the phone was an automated voice telling me that I was 195th in the queue.
This is simply not good enough, and the regulator needs to do something.

Martin Plater
London SW1
 

Woodpecker deterrent

SIR – Nick Morgan (Letters, October 20) complains that a woodpecker keeps drilling holes in the wood-clad bell tower of his church. The problem may be helped with peppermint oil: simply spray it liberally on the affected wood.

In any case, it will give the bell tower a nice fresh smell.

James Barton
Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

SIR – We had a similar problem with squirrels. 

They were entering our loft, not to nest, but to steal the insulation felt to line their nests in the trees outside. 

My husband boarded up their entry point with wood. Undeterred, they simply gnawed their way through. Eventually, we found that the only deterrent was to replace the wood with Perspex. 

Despite many attempts, they found this impenetrable.

Ann Walker
Rotherham, South Yorkshire
 

Laureate of Hull

SIR – During the tiresome months when Rainer Schmidt – who visits Hull from Germany every year (report, October 20) – is away from his beloved city, I suggest he acquaints himself with the poetry of Philip Larkin, if he has not done so already.

While the poet did not share Mr Schmidt’s enthusiasm for travel, Larkin’s work, with its evocations of the city, described as a “pastoral of ships up streets”, will make him feel at home once again. 

He might also enjoy Larkin’s fellow poet and another son of Hull, Andrew Marvell.

C J Fletcher
Stanton St John, Oxfordshire
 

Not on board

SIR – Martin Stevenson (Letters, October 20) has reached the stage of being “diarised” by his lawyer. 
I, however, have yet to attain that honour. I am merely in the process of being “on-boarded” as a client. 

Tim Reid
Mayfield, East Sussex

SIR – I would say to Mr Stevenson that language evolves, and diarised is now acceptable usage.
I’ve just Googled it.

John Bechelet
Partner, Bivonas Law
London EC3

SIR – I believe the residents of New York have an expression: “There ain’t no noun that can’t be verbed.”

Colin Goss
Grouville, Jersey, Channel Islands

SIR – The only person entitled to answer the question “How are you?” with “I’m good” is King Wenceslas.

John Frankel
Newbury, Berkshire

SIR – When did a turning point become a tipping point? 

Jeremy Parr
Suckley, Worcestershire

SIR – I stopped asking a gentleman I dealt with in my work how he was, because he would answer (albeit with a smile): “It’s none of your business.” 

Donald Galt
Banbury, Oxfordshire

SIR – My quarrel is with the use of the term “PIN number”.

Suzanne Harris
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

SIR – What annoys me is hearing television chefs using the phrase “reducing down”. 
I cannot think of any circumstances in which one could reduce up.

Robin Powley 
Aylburton, Gloucestershire

SIR – Sam Kelly (Letters, October 20) asks how you would fry something if not in a pan. 

I have on several occasions watched as my brothers-in-law in Kentucky deep-fry a couple of whole turkeys in a modified oil drum.

Peta Vick
Lytham, Lancashire

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