LETTERS
Finkelstein's fan
Sir: Peter Oborne is a stimulating and inge- nious commentator but, in his profile of Danny Finkelstein ('Ex-Labour, ex-SDP and now excessive?', 13 July) he has seri- ously gone astray. Far from feeling 'neglect- ed' or being 'upset' by Danny's 'remote- ness', as Mr Oborne alleges, I have had perfectly good access to him, as one of his deputy directors, ever since he became head of the Conservative Research Depart- ment. A simple telephone call to me would have been enough to establish this.
The Oborne article also overlooks Danny's achievement in burying the pre- posterous and counter productive 'Coca- Cola' strategy favoured by some influential Conservative figures a few months ago. This was the notion that the Party should acknowledge that Labour had become quasi-Conservative, and that voters should thus be urged to support 'the real thing', rather than Tony Blair's cheap imitation. In fact, such a policy would have signalled to the voters that it was now safe to support New Labour. It isn't, and they shouldn't.
Finally, the article suggests that there may be some prejudice against Danny Finkelstein because of the 'imperialist and anti-Semitic resonances' of the 'post-war Tory Party'. Yet being Jewish has not pre- vented me from being selected as Er prospective parliamentary candidate for a distinctly winnable seat. It will not inhibit Danny's Conservative Party career, either.
Julian Lewis
New Forest East Conservative Association, 3 The Parade, Cadnam, Hampshire
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