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 Nick Clegg,
Ok, ok, I know that we don’t have all the details yet of your coalition with David Cameron and the Conservative Party.  Even so, I think it is worth considering what you have been given by the Conservatives and also what might have been if things had been ever so slightly different on [...]

Dear Gordon Brown,
Well, well, well.  You’ve certainly livened things up a bit, haven’t you.  In one of the most cynical moves of this entire post-election period, you have thrown yourself on your sword (at least, that’s what you want us to think) in an attempt to outflank the Conservatives.  While this will definitely have put [...]

Dear Nick Clegg,
I don’t know whether last night’s YouGov poll is enough of a reason to panic, with your party’s rating in their daily poll down 4 points at 24% while ComRes had you at 26%.  Even so, I think that with the election so close, it is worth reminding everyone of how totally unfit you [...]

Sorry, couldn’t resist.  Feel free to add a better caption!

“What I’m finding on doorsteps – and I’ve spent a lot more time on them than most columnists – is what G K Chesterton called “our scorn for all men governing”.  People feel, with reason, that their politicians have become a caste apart; that Parliament fails to reflect their views; that MPs have become spokesmen [...]

 
From the Telegraph:
Labour’s general election campaign is in crisis amid damaging rows between senior cabinet ministers and a new poll showing support for the party dropping to a six-month low.  In one particularly bad-tempered incident, Lord Mandelson ordered Harriet Harman, the party’s deputy leader, to “shut up” and told her he did not want to [...]

“I’m glad to see my top team is preparing for government by developing the habit of leaving secret dossiers in the back of cabs.”
- Nick Clegg, speaking after a Liberal Democrat aide left briefing notes for the first leaders TV debate in the back of a black cab.  The dossier – entitled “I’m not here [...]

Dear Vince Cable,
Seeing as no-one cares what you have to say anymore thanks to Cleggmania, I thought it would be generous of me to bring you back into the fold.  However, the reason I am writing to you today is to explain why your grossly irresponsible manifesto will cause more damage to the UK economy [...]

Dear readers,
Leaving aside the fluffy soundbytes from the Conservative Party yesterday, I was struck by the stunningly high-quality of comments and critiques on various issues including the party manifestos.  In order to give your faith in mainstream politics and politicians a bit of a boost, I thought I would share with you the fruits of my research [...]

“Oh you’re a Lib Dem? Marvellous! Have I ever told you how much I admiree people like you…”
We’ve all heard of tactical voting but this is just ridiculous.  The PM is so terrified of losing that, in front of the whole world’s media, he and his ministers are actually telling his own supporters to vote for someone [...]

Dear readers,
I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t help but feel that the three general election campaign launch speeches from the main parties wonderfully encapsulated the choice facing voters on May 6th.  Here’s what I saw…

Let’s start with Brown.  As you can see, he gave his opening campaign speech on the step of Number [...]

First came ‘Change That Works For You. Building A Fairer Britain’ – without doubt one of the worst election slogans I have ever heard.  It means nothing, it tells me nothing, it will inspire no-one and it’s basically the same as the other two parties.
Now we have Nick Clegg calling for a 10% tax on [...]

“Anna is liberal and open-minded but politically she supports The Labour Party, for all its sins.”
- a note on the website of Anna Arrowsmith, a porn film director and the new PPC for the Lib Dems in the constituency of Gravesham.  Her website also mentions that she is “into all sorts of things, mainly partying [...]

Dear Nick Clegg,
In the modern political era, it is almost a given that policy announcements and speeches are leaked to the media way so that some interest can be drummed up in advance.  It was therefore quite refreshing for you to spring a surprise attack on David Cameron this week, although – as we have [...]

Dear Nick Clegg,
No doubt you had in mind a dramatic, media-busting launch of your tax plans yesterday that would herald a resurgence in the polls.  Sadly, what you have ended up with is your party running extremely hard just to stand still.  It is clear that you have been forced to drastically alter your most infamous policy [...]

“Today’s Liberal Democrats are an Ikea party, cobbled together overnight on the bedroom floor and rarely upright in one place for more than a week. Vince Cable wants the banks bailed out by the government, but only sort of. Paddy Ashdown wants Afghanistan saved from the Taliban “if it can be done properly”. The party [...]

 
PRESS RELEASE 0902 – WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER
 
The Liberal Democrats have become embroiled in a fierce row over airbrushing after a Conservative blogger accused them of ‘airbrushing’ photos of Nick Clegg during their 2009 party conference in Bournemouth.  A.Tory, author of the ‘Letters From A Tory’ blog, has uncovered what he claims is “clear evidence of [...]

Dear Nick Clegg,
What a hilarious show.  Gaffe after gaffe after gaffe.  First came the accusation that David Cameron was a “conman”, which everyone ignored.  Then came talk of “savage cuts”, which you backtracked on yesterday.  Then came the possibility of dropping your pledge to scrap tuition fees, which was quickly left to one side.  Then [...]

Dear Jo Swinson,
I know that Silly Season is upon us and pretty much any story, no matter how ridiculous, can get into the news.  Even so, I would have thought that the Lib Dems would be keen to avoid making themselves look like prats during this relatively quiet period.  I was wrong.  It appears as [...]

Dear Nick Clegg,
Much as you might have been boyed by one recent Euro election and General Election poll, I’d hate for you to think that it has anything to do with you as opposed to the continuing capitulation of Labour. The ICM poll for the Telegraph had you up five points on 25% and in second [...]