DAVE Cook by highlighting the Labour leadership's failings has raised the prospect of a future Conservative/Ukip coalition government (HAS, Oct 25).

It’s not as unlikely as it might initially appear. Opinion polls support the position that Labour’s poor performance in Opposition leaves the party with little or no hope of an absolute majority next year.

The party’s power base in Scotland may well be eroded by the SNP on the back of its positive performance in the Scottish independence debate.

Meanwhile, Ukip is strengthening its position aided by adverse reaction to the recent EU increased budgetary demands, while the Liberals have lost their voice and any credibility they once had.

With Ukip likely to take seats in the General Election from both of the main parties, there is a distinct likelihood that the Conservatives and Ukip may be pushed together in a broad coalition with a manifesto including a 2017 referendum on the question of our future participation in the European Union (a referendum opposed by Labour).

However much David Cameron and Nigel Farage insult each other in public, stranger things have happened.

John Crick, Bishop Auckland