Conservative leadership

Of course it is an internal matter how the Conservative Party chooses its leader, and who that person may be. Nevertheless, current attempts to change the rules, primarily to block one candidate, and to improve the chances of another, hardly offer an attractive spectacle to outside observers who might consider voting for the Tories in the future.

One argument for the retrograde proposal to disenfranchise the ordinary members is quite extraordinary: that they chose the "wrong" candidate in 2001. Yet we all have good cause to be grateful that they preferred Ian Duncan Smith over Kenneth Clarke.

If Clarke had been the leader, he would never have permitted Conservatives to campaign against the European Union constitution, and the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, would not have conceded a referendum.

By now, the bill to ratify the constitution would have slipped through parliament with little fuss. Also, as the French president, Jacques Chirac, only gave in to calls for a French referendum because Mr Blair had given in here, the constitution would also have received parliamentary ratification in France. The Dutch would have followed suit.

Conservative MPs showed an appalling lack of judgment by naming Mr Clarke as their first choice for leader, and the country owes the rank and file members a debt of gratitude for their common sense and patriotism in rejecting him. It was hardly their fault that the alternative put forward by the MPs was a good man, but a poor leader.

So, if either group is now to be disenfranchised, why should it be the party members?

(DR) DR COOPER

Belmont Park Avenue

Maidenhead, Berkshire