HAS the Conservative Party ever been at a lower ebb in its history, with squabbling and in-fighting disputes over policy?

To the public, the appearance seems to smack of a party in turmoil, pressing the self-destruct button.

The shadow prime minister is surely one of the most inept and unconvincing leaders you could wish to have.

He bears a comparison with the line from an old song "Whosoever king may reign, I'll still be the Vicar of Bray" - the point being, he seems to change his views to suit different factions of his party at will.

If the Tories are to move forward and make significant inroads into the Labour majority, a new leader needs to be found.

Who? That is a big problem.

Surely, not a Thatcher revival and most of the old veterans like Michael Heseltine or Michael Portillo have been in positions of power without significant impact.

Now, with the prominence of partial home rule in Wales and Scotland, the prospects of a Conservative government is really looking bleak at least in the near future.

K SOWERBUTTS (Mr), Southwood Drive, Baxenden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.