Sin,---The depressing conclusions drawn in your article 'Orders are Orders'
about the 'rightward' or retrogressive movement of the Conservative Party are apparently logical, but I believe nevertheless incorrect.
In a predominantly two-party political system, it is natural and inevitable that the parties should reflect a considerable range of opinion, and Bournemouth and Norfolk arc not necessarily typical of Conserva- tive Associations as a whole. In many of these the .leadership is now passing into the hands of the 'new' Conservatives. professional people, research workers. businessmen, etc., many of whom have served in the Young Conservatives Since the war, and, in many cases, whose views arc just the 'liberal' ones which you suggest will be ousted.
As a practical example. I can quote a recent 'Any Questions' panel at a Conservative meeting. In reply to a question about capital and corporal punishment, two were abolitionists, and the other two nearly so, certainly not wanting to go back from the present situation. The panel comprised a Constituency Chair- man, a Constituency Women's Chairman, a Young Conservative Chairman and a Branch Chairman. This, in my experience, is not unusual these days, and is perhaps worth quoting as a counterweight to the impression given by 'other places.'— Yours faithfully,
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