Letters From A Tory Daily views on British politics and the Conservative Party from a centre-right thinker who writes letters on his blog to politicians, journalists and many others.

Dear Alex Salmond,
I doubt you’ll be pleased to read about how little impact you have had in trying to force a referendum on the independence of Scotland.  Even though it has always been blatantly obvious how much the Scots hate the English, you clearly underestimated how much the Scots enjoy financially free-riding off the back [...]

“Faced with a ballot paper, it will come home to them that Ken Livingstone has been there too long, Boris Johnson is too much of a risk and they will vote for me. I don’t think it’s over until it’s over.”
- Brian Paddick, the Lib Dem mayoral candidate who obviously hasn’t been reading the polls

Dear David Aaronovitch,
I find it very amusing that you are trying to mount a backlash against the Labour rebels in this way.  Throughout your article in The Times today, you suggest that the “government’s natural supporters are merely whingeing – and forgetting the achievements”.  Oh dear, you really haven’t been paying attention for the last [...]

If I had been asked to predict which issue is most likely to trigger an attack or Iran, or possibly World War III, I probably wouldn’t have said Barbie.  Obviously I still have a lot to learn.

Dear Greater London Assembly,
I’m glad that you have realised the potential for fraud in the postal voting system for the Mayoral elections and are trying to rectify this by training officials to spot fake signatures and votes, but I fear that you are climbing an impossibly steep hill.
Postal voting is so open to fraud that [...]

“Sexual addiction is comparable to the other, better known addictions, such as drugs, alcohol and gambling. Many people suffer different types of this disease. …I hope that in time people will be able to understand and forgive me as I fight this difficult, personal battle.”
- Lord Laidlaw, who has admitted to receiving treatment for his [...]

Yes he has, if you believe what you read in the Times and the Telegraph this morning.

“I absolutely had total belief in Tony Blair, and I felt it was a privilege to help in any way I could both he and the Labour party.”
- Lord Levy, who did absolutely nothing wrong and was completely innocent in the cash-for-honours investigation

Dear Alice Thomson,
Absolutely spot on.  In amongst the closed schools, the government’s brave face and frustrated parents, you have picked out the core reason why the NUT should indeed attend “a lesson in democracy” themselves.
Trying to blackmail the government yesterday (and now supported with further threats of strike action in today’s papers) is nothing more [...]

I can’t make my mind about whether THIS STORY shows that God doesn’t exist or shows that God just has a cruel sense of humour.  Hmmm.

Dear Justine Greening,
Thank you for pursuing the government over their ‘green taxes’ sham.  I am always happy to see the government taking a serious interest in environmental issues, but slapping massive tax hikes on motorists is designed to raise £2.5 billion of revenue for the empty Treasury coffers instead of trying to help reduce pollution.
This [...]

“I have absolutely no recollection of that whatsoever”
- Nick Clegg on suggestions he joined a student Conservative Association while at university.

Looks like this man…

…has made our Prime Minister do a lot of this…

Although I’m obviously annoyed that the rebels didn’t carry through with their threats, maybe this sends out the right signal to the government over 42-day detention where this is no room for bargaining?

When the world is facing financial meltdown and on the verge of a food crisis that threatens to destroy millions of lives around the globe, it is comforting to see George W Bush taking everything so seriously.

BBC News website, 22nd April 2008: Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has carried out a major cabinet reshuffle as the EU steps up scrutiny of his administration.  He sacked the ministers of defence, agriculture and health, and named a new interior minister to replace Rumen Petkov who resigned last week.  The EU has urged Bulgaria, [...]

“Hey everyone, if you look up there you can see the chances of the Democrats winning the election evaporating right before your eyes thanks to my negative campaigning”

Dear Tessa Jowell,
Please don’t patronise us.  Sometimes I really wish politicians would admit when they’ve been caught out and apologise rather than trying to weasel your way out of a situation.  When the Public Accounts Committee finds that you “misled” us about the costs of the Olympics, there are two possibilities – 1. You lied [...]

“The Budget sets out clear plans to help pensioners and families with children. Even at a time of global challenges, we are able to help the oldest and the youngest.”
- Yvette Cooper, House of Commons debates, 18th March 2008

“I attach considerable importance to making sure that we help people on lower incomes. …I want them to be able to keep as much money as they can.”
- Alistair Darling, during his interview with Andrew Marr yesterday

Dear Ruth Kelly,
Looks like you’ve hit another stumbling block and this time it cost hundreds of lives every year.  In my humble opinion, the debate over lowering the drink-drive alcohol limit raised again in today’s papers has got to be one of the simplest debates to solve in modern politics, and yet Labour just keeps [...]

Next time you’re sitting on a train or bus, make sure that you don’t make eye contact with anyone else – unless you want to end up in prison.

“Psssst….how’s the vote rigging going?”

Apparently everyone in the UK is banned from naming the member of the Royal Family at the centre of the ‘gay sex tape’ blackmail plot, but that doesn’t mean I can’t provide a link to their name instead.

Dear William Hague
Yet again, you are hitting all the right notes.  As Miliband cowers in his Whitehall Office and leaves Zimbabwe to rot, you are sending out the most powerful signal from Britain to China about their arms sales to Robert Mugabe.
I wholeheartedly agree with your statement: ”The international community must speak with one voice on [...]