Peter Hitchens: I invented the ‘left-wing face’

Sitting ducks

Sir: James Heale is right to highlight the important question about Rishi Sunak’s replacement (‘Who will lead the Tories?, 13 July). A weak leader will be a sitting duck for Nigel Farage to target, resulting in a worsening split on the right and an open goal for Labour to exploit at the next general election. They need a bold, principled and pragmatic leader who is prepared for fierce resistance by Reform UK. All the proposed candidates are great at preaching to their own respective choirs, but are any of them prepared to bravely fight for their beliefs like a Margaret Thatcher? They need to reinvent themselves, akin to in 1975, when Thatcher took the necessary steps to change the Conservative party, providing an alternative to the normalised managed decline. With the continuing rise of Reform UK, this leadership race is vital. I fear they will be found lacking.

Henry Bateson

Whittingham, Northumberland