Hello everyone,

I have been lurking these forums for a couple of years now, reading the articles and the posts and, by and large, it has been very interesting and informative, but I am starting to worry that things in the Conservative party are going to lose the next election, whenever that may be.

First, I should let you know that I am a reluctant brexiteer, I voted remain, and I am a very enthusiastic One Nation Tory. I am in my sixties and I have voted Conservative all of my life.

I feel that there are many ways that the party and it's supporters are making it difficult for Joe Public to vote for them and my first example is in your post.

You claim that "74% want out". This is not true. Just a thirty second Google search exposes the mendacity in this claim. The poll actually states that 74% would rather have no deal than a bad deal, which is not the same thing as wanting out, at all.

Now, the problem with this is two fold;

It makes Conservative supporters look like chancers and, dare I say it, liars. We already have a trust issue with the public, why make it worse by appearing mendacious?

The second is that this is a meaningless poll. Of course most people would rather have no deal than a bad deal. I expect most people would rather have one broken leg rather than two. It is a ridiculous question and it is obvious that is a ridiculous question. It does our credibility no good at all.

I think we should stop twisting facts. After the last election, we would do well to be as honest as we can, show some humility and compassion and stop chasing the UKIP vote. We may have captured the UKIP vote, but how many have we lost from the centre ground as a result?

I do apologise for my first post being in the vein that it is, but I am truly concerned that we may lose the next election and many more after that.