Lunch, please
From Nick Herbert Sir: I fear the fetid air in Blackpool may have affected Peter Obome's usually sound judgment. His implication that Reform's criticism of the Conservative party's policy on tuition fees was somehow motivated by an association with David Davis (The road to revival', 11 October) was wrong on three counts. First, Reform strongly disagrees with Mr Davis on this issue. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the party's policy to scrap tuition fees. We have consistently sup ported them. Second, while I yield to no one in my friendship with and admiration for Mr Davis, Reform is — and will remain — firmly independent of any political party or politician: indeed, our constitution requires us to be so. Our council members and supporters include many people who do not even support the Conservative party, let alone one of its MPs. Third, Mr Oborne knows this perfectly well, because he wrote last year that Reform is 'not linked to any political party .... It has the courage to look at great issues ... in the open-minded and bold way that politicians shy away from.' I have demanded from Mr Oborne, and expect to receive, a fulsome apology and compensation for his calumny by way of a ruinously expensive lunch at the restaurant of my choice.
Nick Herbert
London SW1
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