Letter: Local elections: only a period of re-evaluation in the wilderness can save the Conservatives

Sir: As a member of no political party, I have watched and listened with great interest to the responses to the local election results. Is the arrogance of the Conservative Party so overweening that it cannot recognise the truth? The uncommitted electorate is so sick of the party that has turned the clock back 150 years, that all it wants to see is its back.

It's not about John Major. Ted Heath is right: the party needs a major re-think. The right place for that is the wilderness. And the Tories needn't think they will solve their problems in the 40ish days between now and the Euro elections - that needs Someone of rather better standing]

Yours sincerely,

JOHN L. SPURWAY

Sevenoaks, Kent

7 May