Jonathan Freedland (I’ve got news for Rishi Sunak: he no longer leads the Conservative party, 29 September) paints a vivid picture of the Tory government’s descent into right-wing populism. But is it possible that they have actually transformed the party into “something else entirely”? Could it be that Boris Johnson’s purge of the “one nation” Conservative MPs, driven by a populist Brexit agenda, has simply revealed the true colors of the Tories by removing the convenient veil of civic responsibility?
It was indeed the presence of these moderates at the top that ensured the Tories’ custodianship over the “long-established institutions” noted by Freedland. However, there is another long-established institution that this party has historically been dedicated to preserving – the English class system, with all its inherent privilege and injustice.
Perhaps the one positive outcome of the Brexit disaster could be the removal of this regressive party and the end of the Tory dominance that has plagued the nation for so long. This would give us the opportunity to build a modern, inclusive, and forward-looking country under a government that is truly suitable for this purpose.
Jonathan Cross
Shrewsbury
Jonathan Freedland is correct in asserting that the remaining Conservative party values have finally been abandoned. This can be traced back to Margaret Thatcher’s era, with the attacks on local government, the privatization of council services, and the sale of council houses.
As a former Liberal Democrat councillor in Tower Hamlets, I vividly recall the outrage of numerous capable and committed Conservative councillors. The devaluation of professions, which is another aspect of this trend, likely explains the decline in support from groups that used to have a strong Conservative presence.
However, the most shocking and appalling element is the neglect of the law enforcement system through underfunding of the police, courts, lawyers, probation services, and prisons.
Today’s Conservative leaders seem to have completely disconnected from any set of values rooted in democracy and the rule of law.
Gyles Glover
Cambridge
As a former Conservative voter and ex-member of the party, I wholeheartedly agree with Jonathan Freedland’s analysis. I have long felt that it is not that I have left the Conservatives, but rather that they have abandoned me as they transform into the party they once sought to defeat, UKIP.
Brexit and populism have undermined their traditional role of preserving established institutions, upholding the law, and protecting the environment. As Freedland rightly observes, the party has become more of a radical force seeking destruction, which I can no longer support. I fear the consequences for the country if they were to win the next election.
Katarina Tidball
Ringwood, Hampshire
Jonathan Freedland suggests that the Tory party’s new logo should be a burning tree. However, the felled sycamore at Hadrian’s Wall is a better representation of their policies – an act of reckless vandalism carried out in the darkness, far from London.
Rory Murphy
London
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