11 APRIL 1981, Page 19

E lectoral points Sir: A point missed by Ferdinand Mount in

his review of how Conservatives should react to the new Social Democratic Party (28 March) is that any co-operation between the SDP and a left-wing-dominated Labour Party after the next election is out of the question. In a 'hung' Parliament the Social Democrats must side with the Conservatives. But Conservatives should be wary of Showing too much favour to the new party: at the election the Socialists will be saying 'a vote for the Social Democrats is a vote for the Tories', and if this is generally perceived to be the case in the event (regardless of what the polls now say) the alliance will draw more votes from the Conservatives than from Labour.

J.M. Meade

Manor Farm House, Hedenham, Bungay, Suffolk