I’M afraid David Cameron missed a golden opportunity to reinvigorate the Conservative Party at last weekend’s spring conference. We expected a no-holds-barred, fighting speech and got a bowl of cold semolina.

Where was the real pledge to call for a referendum on the EU; care for the victim before the criminal; putting the mess of human rights back to its original theme, not a get-out for criminals; giving education back to the teachers and not quangos, on both teaching and discipline; firming up immigration – if you transgress you’re on the next plane/boat out; and on crime, making justice firmer – not first time “maybe”, second time “could be”, third time a slap on the wrist?

Mr Cameron is on a hiding for nothing if he can’t do better than this.

R Harbron, Norton, Stockton.