Letters | 16 October 2010

Lessons for the GOP?

Sir: In Charles Moore’s notes (9 October), he writes that ‘unusually in modern political history… American politics could learn from Britain something to its advantage’. He seems to support his ‘old friend’ David Frum, who says that the Republican party should follow the David Cameron model and detoxify their party brand.

I can’t understand why. Cameron Conservatism can hardly be considered an exemplary success. The Tory leader couldn’t even win an election against an immensely unpopular prime minister who had ruined the country. Republicans, on the other hand, for all their unpopularity across the world, look increasingly certain to win back Congress next month in the US mid-term elections. One day, of course, Cameron might emerge as an inspirational Tory leader, a postmodern Thatcher. For now, however, the only lesson that Republicans can learn from David Cameron is that there are no lessons to be learned from David Cameron.

Eliza Ascott
Washington, DC

Political classes


Sir: I wonder if Oxford University’s plan to open a new school of governance and diplomacy will do anything other than strengthen the ‘New Establishment’ that you identified in last week’s magazine (‘Gangs of Westminster’, 9 October).

Toby Young rightly observes that the values and interests of a modern politician are too often dictated by ‘political expediency’. This problem is all but certain to be exacerbated by a new elite institution designed to launch ambitious young men and women into the political class. I’m sure Mr Young would agree that a 2:1 (or even a 2:2) in philosophy would be a much more desirable qualification in a prime minister than a first in career politics.

Grant Wishart
Cornwall

Look who’s talking

Sir: To be accused by Sam Leith (Books 9 October) of writing too much takes one well beyond pots and kettles into surrealism.