The race isn’t run
Sir: Bravo Fiona Unwin (‘Rooting for Rishi’, 6 August) for the best piece I have read on the grassroots take on the Conservative party’s leadership election. Having attended several such hustings both this time and over the years, this one does remind me of 2005: David Davis vs David Cameron. Lots of career-focused senior MPs backing an early front-runner, and then quiet reflection from the life-experienced sensible grassroots membership. Few predicted the 2005 winner until that electric party conference speech. This time, with dozens of events like the one the vice-president of West Suffolk describes, the typical Spectator reader rather than the Westminster hack will select the next prime minister. It’s all to play for.
Tony Devenish
London W2
Required reading
Sir: Matt Ridley’s article ‘How to be PM: ten rules for the next Tory leader to live by’ (6 August) is brilliant; it should be widely circulated to everyone, not just prospective PMs.
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