THERE is no doubt William Hague presents himself as an intelligent, friendly and honest-looking politician.

He probably has the image that would attract the electorate to him as a leader of the Conservative Party and possible Prime Minister. But we are forgetting something, aren't we?

When Christopher Wardell hails Mr Hague as a leader (HAS, Sept 22), is he not forgetting that the Richmond MP responded to his party once before, stood forward and while his party backed him, the country roundly rejected him and the policies of a tired Conservative Party? It heralded the arrival of Tony Blair and New Labour.

Mr Hague might have learnt some hard lessons in Opposition, but one thing he will have great difficulty in changing is the Tories, who are devoid of realistic ideas and lacking in how to govern.

Yes, some might say, you can only govern when in government, but I think an effective opposition must have credibility and ideas to present to an electorate which will determine its worthiness to govern.

The Conservatives have some way to go.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe, Durham.