I certainly hope so.

RICHARD HARRISON
Chesham Bois
Buckinghamshire

From Ms Eleanor Goldsworthy

Sir, William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard were never going to be accepted by the British electorate. Nor will Malcolm Rifkind, David Davis or Kenneth Clarke. Those who ask why not are Conservative voters already and the party can take their votes for granted.

A younger face, a fresh approach, a new Conservatism is required and there is, at long last, someone who fills the role. Stand up David Cameron and for Pete’s sake sit down all the rest. Cameron is the right man at the right time; the first such happy coincidence since the right woman arrived at the right time 30 years ago.

ELEANOR GOLDSWORTHY
elliegoldsworthy@hotmail.com

From Dr Richard Turner

Sir, Rather than considering Ken Clarke for leadership, the Conservative Party should be voting to exclude the former Health Secretary from membership because of his entirely unethical role in promoting tobacco consumption.

Taking a principled stand on drug dealing of all kinds could demonstrate that Conservatives stand for order in public life, which is just what many electors who fear increasing liberalisation in society are looking for.

RICHARD TURNER
Harrogate, North Yorkshire

From Lieutenant-General Sir Martin Garrod

Sir, I do not find the overnight conversion of Kenneth Clarke to Euroscepticism (letter, August 27) convincing.

If a potential Tory leader can throw out of the window deeply held tenets such as the euro, how can we be sure what other principles he will or will not be prepared to abandon? We keep reading that the Tory party needs a “big hitter”, but cui bono if one is not sure whether the big hitter will be batting for one’s own side?

MARTIN GARROD
Walmer, Kent

From Dr John F. W. Priestman

Sir, Is the Kenneth Clarke who says he will not be too old at 70 to be Prime Minister the same Ken Clarke who, in 1990 (when Secretary of State for Health), made it compulsory for GPs to retire at 70 presumably because he believed doctors of this age were too old to work?

JOHN F. W. PRIESTMAN
Shelley, West Yorkshire

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