1 MARCH 2003, Page 33

Giant-killing midgets

From Mr Peter Jay Sir: I am one of the many conservatives (with a small 'c') who believe that the present lamentable state of the Tory party is the result of, and a judgment on, the parliamentary party's treatment of Mrs (as she was then) Thatcher.

While I am sure that she was at times very irritating to her colleagues, this is a characteristic which she shared with many other leaders, including Winston Churchill, and did not justify Geoffrey Howe (Balancing the ticket', 22 February) and other selfimportant midgets stabbing her in the back.

In the circumstances, it is inappropriate (and, I would say, impertinent) for Howe now to offer advice on rescuing the party from the disaster which he and his colleagues brought about.

Peter Jay

London W9