WHILE being reluctant to intrude in a matter which is increasingly one of private grief, I feel I must write to congratulate the Tories on keeping us all entertained throughout the news "silly season" of August.

The Turpin column tells us that the two most recent failed Tory General Election candidates in York are split over who should be their next leader (August 25). Earlier in the week you carried a piece where one of their few York councillors, and one of their few women members to hold any sort of office, also cannot agree on whether they should back Clarke or Duncan Smith.

Add in the jailing of their ex-deputy chairman, Jeffrey Archer, and the self publicists, Neil and Christine Hamilton, trumpeting their denials of the most recent allegations made against them, and there has been no need for journalists to go in search of stories.

I wonder if the once great Conservative Party could be prevailed upon to extend the present leadership contest so we can enjoy it through September too?

Alexander Fraser,

Millfield Road, York.

...AS a life-long Conservative, I fully support Iain Duncan Smith. It was lovely to see Lady Thatcher supports him. We can be sure he will keep Britain the country we rule and not ruled by the unelected Brussels bureaucrats.

T Smith,

Heathfield Road, York.

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, August 28, 2001