IT is strange that two former Conservative MPs should think that Ken Clarke, who caused so many of the Conservative Party's problems by being caught by Labour implementing 22 extra taxes, can be the solution to Conservative problems.

Furthermore their notion of "commanding the centre ground" has been another cause of Conservative failures. Few electors know, let alone care, what the centre ground is and that is not surprising as the "centre ground" is not based on any political principles but is forever changing.

Thirty years ago, before Mr Blair moved the Labour Party to the right and Mrs Thatcher moved the Conservative Party to the right, the centre ground was far to the left of what it is today. In Victorian times, however, the centre ground of politics was far to the right of what it is today. So the Conservative Party should not bother about what is supposed to be left, right and centre. It must concentrate on providing a real alternative to Labour and better policies than Labour. At this last election the Conservative Party acquiesced in too many Labour policies, such as most of their spending plans, to provide an attractive and credible alternative.

Iain Duncan-Smith is far more likely than Ken Clarke to develop substantially different policies to Labour. He is already beginning to do this in proposing educational vouchers to provide choice in education. So he actually gives the Conservative Party the better chance of victory at the next election.

GEOFFREY H. L. BERG,

(former Conservative

councillor),

Perrymead, Prestwich.