How to win floating voters
From Colonel A.D. Lewis Sir: Having been at or near the centre of the local Conservative Association for the last 14 years (agent, treasurer, chairman and president). I read with interest the articles by Peter Oborne and Stephan Shakespeare (Ws crunch time for the Tories' and 'Floating away from the Tories', 5 October). 1 believe that far more attention must be paid to both the floating voter and the activist.
An MP's primary responsibility must be towards all members of his constituency, this being far more important than his responsibility to the local association. Unfortunately, there appears to be a large number of Tory MPs who seem to think that their responsibilities end at preaching to the converted.
The MP needs to get out and about among the local population, to take a keen interest in local matters, knocking on doors, listening to people's problems, and not preaching to them about those policies which are not applicable to them. They must run regular surgeries and take the necessary follow-up action; where nothing can be done, the constituents must have the reasons fully explained to them.
If an MP does as much as possible of the above, it will be found that not only will the number of activists multiply, but also the MP will build a personal following among the floating voters, who will vote for him or her despite the fact that they take no interest in party politics.
A.D. Lewis
Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
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