The end of consensus politics?
LETTERS
From: Christopher Casserley, John Lowe, R. T. Luxton, John Barton-Armstrong, Antony Buck, MP, and David Webster, MP, B. J. lurren,' Peter McMenemie, Nicolas and Ruth Walter, Richard Rowe, R. I. Lee, M. Vaughan, W. R. Russell, Guy Warrack.
Sir: Angus Maude's excellent article (10 May) accurately reflected feelings that are widespread in Britain today. Supporters of both Conserva- tive and Labour governments since the war have felt let down by the actions of their respective parties when in power. The struggle for the 'middle ground' of politics, which seems some- times to preoccupy our leaders to the exclusion of their political principles, results in an overfull enfranchisement of the Don't Knows at the expense of the faithful.
Asa Conservative, I felt that Mr Maude's list of subjects that cause public resentment was fine as far as it went, but that it did not go quite far enough. Surely one of the main hopes of Conservatives is that the next Conservative government will reverse the trend towards ever more intervention by the government in our private affairs? Many Conservatives would like to hear an undertaking from Mr Heath that his Government will set about dismantling some of the socialist-inspired apparatus of government, wherever this can be done without causing direct damage to essential services.
Common sense warns that this process could not be taken too far in the modern world, but the firm intention should be there. After a few years of Conservative government the machi- nery should- no longer exist whereby a future Socialist government (if there ever is one, but will people learn?) could interfere with our daily lives to such an inordinate extent.
Failing such an undertaking, the suspicion will remain that, underneath it all, the leaders of the Conservative party are more interested in wielding power than in fostering a particular way of life in Britain.
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