CHRIS Moncrieff (The Press, March 18) is surprised that the Tories do not see defence spending as a priority, which it always has been in the past for them.

The reason is that under David Cameron, the Conservatives are now firmly fixed in the centre ground of politics, while Labour, the Lib-Dems and the Greens are all well to the left.

The only party occupying the ground once held by the Tories is now Ukip. The difference is that the Conservatives say they are a right-wing party, but their policies say otherwise.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington, York.