The Tory party are protecting the wealthy at the expense of the rest of us

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

‘Was it not the Conservative Party that itself reduced local housing targets in the first place?’ (PA)

So, just when you thought that Rishi Sunak had overseen any threats to his leadership, along comes Michael Gove to give a keynote speech on housing policy in central London rather than to the houses of parliament.

This proves yet again the Conservative’s lack of respect for parliamentary sovereignty and possibly a hint of something to come. After all, the right wing of the Conservative Party are hardly big fans of more housing targets, especially now that another inflationary surge is expected.

Was it not the Conservative Party that itself reduced local housing targets in the first place? Thus wiping out a whole generation from securing a home of their own, under Conservative rule?

Or am I right in thinking that the Conservative Party has yet again been exposed for protecting the wealthiest at the expense of the rest?

Geoffrey Brooking

Hampshire

No prior experience required

Sean O’Grady’s report of the Conservative Party’s search for suitable candidates to stand at the next election exposes much that is wrong with our nation’s politics.

Although the party chair suggests that they are looking for “individuals who want to serve their country”, he does not list those who represent the diverse nature of our nation, nor those with experience in public service. Too many of those who have “risen to the top” in the party in recent years have had precious little experience of anything other than working within the political firmament.

Those with experience elsewhere tend to have gained it, like our current prime minister, in the rarefied and removed environs of the financial markets. Few if any have had serious jobs elsewhere that have required them to lead and inspire others, to make hard decisions and work strategically in demanding circumstances.

On reading Rory Stewart’s excellent Politics on the Edge recently, it became clear that those with independence of mind, who have experience elsewhere and a passion to serve, are seen as a threat to party leaders who want to bolster their fragile hold on power by surrounding themselves with “yes” men and women, who will not rock the boat.

For as long as our politicians continue to be unrepresentative of the diversity of backgrounds and experience that characterise our nation as a whole, we will continue to be governed by those who are least well-equipped to think hard and make decisions that are in everyone’s long-term interests.

Graham Powell

Cirencester

Having a “mone”

Might I suggest a new word for the Oxford dictionary, “moning” the present participle of the verb “to mone”.

To “mone” could be defined as “engaging in the process of deceiving others about a high profile and potentially damaging (to yourself) situation that you have been involved with, and later attempting to justify the deceit by stating that you did it to protect other innocent people”.

Baroness Michelle Mone’s behaviour regarding PPE Medpro would fit this definition perfectly, hence where the word comes from. A potential quiz league question in years to come, no doubt.

“Moning” would of course be different from the situation where someone lies in order to protect someone else who has committed a misdemeanour. That would still be known as perverting the course of justice.

Richard Barlow

Gloucestershire

The party you can trust?

It is obvious to everyone that Michelle Mone and her husband were motivated more by greed than “wanting to help”. How else can you explain the 30 per cent profit on their contract?

What is not clear is who was behind placing a £200m contract with a company that had no record in the supply of PPE and indeed had not even been incorporated as a legal entity at the time the contract was placed. Add to this the myriad of bogus firms which were set up, who had no trading history being able to apply and receive £50,000 loans, which we are unlikely to ever see again. And the Tories still like to say they are the party who you can trust with the economy.

Geoff Forward

Stirling

Free Advice

Baroness Mone has made references to acting on guidance offered by her advisers – I am very happy to offer her advice free of charge – she is now deep in the proverbial hole and should stop digging.

Ian Wingfield

Derbyshire