BBC Newsnight presenter Evan Davis asked David Cameron why the Conservative Party had not won a general election since 1992.

Every now and again, parties pick leaders because they are not somebody else. The Labour Party had a time in the wilderness. It picked Jim Callaghan because he was not Tony Benn. The Labour Party picked Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock for the same reason.

The Conservatives went through an identical period when William Hague, Michael Howard and Iain Duncan Smith were elected as leader. They were all picked because they were not Ken Clarke.

Finally when we all thought the Conservatives would get the message, they did it again and picked David Cameron instead of Mr Clarke.

When parties pick leaders who only appeal to their core supporters instead of voters in general, they do not win elections. That is why the Conservatives haven't won an election since 1992.

Mrs Thatcher damaged the Conservatives in Scotland and the North of England. That too has played a big part in this for the Tories.

Nigel F Boddy, Darlington.