SIR: After the Tories preached about family values, it is hard to believe that, after the elections of William Hague as leader of their Party, he stated he wanted a fresh start.

So he started to elect his Shadow Cabinet by including elements of John Major's factions. Then he elected a disgraced former Cabinet Minister as Tory Party Chairman, so much for family values and fresh start.

Has the public not had enough of these arrogant people? Anyway, there is just one pleasing factor to all this. It is the election of William Hague who will be political fodder for Tony Blair, and the prospect of at least a decade in opposition for the Tories.

Then, last but not least, the election of Brian Mawhinney the engineer of the Tory catastrophe. What a laugh!

Mr A E Ivers

Harrowby Street, Farnworth

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.