From Mrs Sally Blake
Sir: That the Conservatives lost the election has not stunned me half so much as their obvious surprise in having done so! This lack of even an elementary knowledge of psychologY would be farcical, were it not so desperately serious. If the Party was not so busily engaged in digging its own grave, it would recognise that your editorial, far from being 'savage, is the most constructive comment to emerge from these last sorry weeks. . The election was lost before it began, in hundreds of ways, but if I may, I would like to suggest only three:
(1) The people did not want an election, we expected our elected government to carry on with the job. Wedo not appreciate the seeking of unnecessary 'mandates,' any more than we do 'referenda.'
(2) Mr Barber's ill-considered attack, on Mr Powell, labelling him a 'fanatic, not only alienated Mr Powell's supporters, thereby branding them as fanatics also (who far from considering him a fanatic, think of him as the one 'true' Tory left) but also, and far more important alienated the even more vast army of Powell supporters in the Labour camp. (3) The petulant (and I use Mr Wil son's description deliberately, as being the most apt) closing down of television at 10.30 p.m., (instead of the more acceptable curtailing of day-time television). The insultingly obvious implication being that 'they,' have so little in their empty heads, that being deprived of their 'telly,' would have nothing else to do but go to bed, thus saving on fuel. 'They' would not reap books, or play records, or of cOurse, converse with each other! As if this was not insult enough, 'Family Planning' commercials preceded closedown as 'They,' deprived of telly, and forced into bed, would undoubtedlY turn to the oldest free entertainment in the world! This lamentable lack of public psychology was enough t° make even the strong weep. I never thought, as a life-long Tory, and I hope, a 'thinking-Tory,' that would feel relief at seeing Mr Wils°° back at No. 10. But, by God, I do.
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