Letter: A tactical stratagem that could bring about a Conservative defeat at the next general election

Sir: Many reasons are being put forward to explain the Conservative rout at Newbury and in the local elections, but I cannot help suspecting that one factor may well have been the Government's ill-considered rail privatisation plans. After all, Newbury is a major commuter town on one of the first lines earmarked for sell-off, and many provincial and rural lines could be threatened with cutbacks, or even closure, if these proposals go through.

Maybe now John Major will decide he ought to suggest that John MacGregor thinks twice about destroying our national rail network.

Yours faithfully,

GRAHAM LARKBEY

London, N6

7 May