Sir, Lord Baker of Dorking’s idea of a Tory-Labour coalition to keep the SNP out of power has real merit (Thunderer, Mar 9). The two parties broadly agree on defence, security and devolution. Moreover, the difference between their plans to eliminate the deficit is small enough to allow a mid-way compromise to be agreed. Eliminating the ill-judged move to five-year fixed-term parliaments would allow the coalition to endure so long as neither party advanced excessively partisan legislation, and would therefore sharpen the focus on the urgent and critical political and economic issues.
Oliver Chapple
Upper Milton, Oxon
Sir, Lord Baker’s proposal for a coalition of national unity might not be such a bad thing, given that the Conservatives and Labour have so much in common. Both parties adhere to the neo-liberal economic orthodoxy, and share similar policies on fracking, student fees and a British nuclear deterrent. In fact, I would suggest they go further and formally merge their campaigns before the election so that those parties offering alternative visions and values have more chance of getting their messages across.
Geoff Naylor
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Winchester