Ukip and the Tories
From Frederick Forsyth Sir: Ukip supporters may jubilate all they wish, but what happened on Thursday cannot change the two inunutables. One is that Ukip is a protest movement and the British electorate has never voted for (nor will it) a onepolicy protest movement as its government.
The other is that reappraisal and renegotiation will never originate in the Strasbourg nodding shop. It will happen, if at all, from a new government in Downing Street.
Despite Peter Oborne's gloom (Politics, 12 June), the very fragility of contemporary allegiances compared with 40 years ago makes politicians even more susceptible to huge public mood swings. Blair was persuaded to concede a referendum on the Giscardian constitution despite repeated assertions of 'never' because he knew it would be an electoral killer if he did not.
The path over the next 12 months for those who love this country must be pressure, pressure, pressure. On everyone. Especially on Ukip not to sabotage a Conservative return to office.
Frederick Forsyth
Hertford
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