IN 1983 the Labour Party were unelectable for 14 years. In 2001 the Conservatives look out of office for a very long time - unless, like Labour, they change. What the party needs to do, albeit without necessarily liking it, is elect Ken Clarke as leader.

They should then allow all views on the Euro to be heard and discussed. Drop the xenophobia. And accept that Britain has changed enormously since 1979: people now regard as most important the NHS, education, public transport and housing.

The new Tories will have to show they can run the economy and support big business, but also have care and consideration for people less well off than themselves. Tax cuts do not mean votes - people know that everything costs money and must be funded from somewhere.

The Tories still have a huge image problem, and the likes of Portillo, Widdecombe, Lilley, Ancram, Hague, Maude, Howard and Rifkind do not help to dispel it. Change is often painful, but is the alternative worse?

David Quarrie,

Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

Updated: 10:55 Thursday, June 14, 2001