Peter Reynolds is a journalist and leader of the CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform campaign group. He previously worked as Creative Director for PR firm Saatchi & Saatchi, and wrote a weekly column for The Independent. But Reynolds is also a vocal member of the Conservative Party, writing about party policy and general politics.
On 31 August, he used his blog to publish his resignation letter from the Tory party – following months of criticism of May’s leadership.
Here’s the resignation letter in full
From: Peter Reynolds
Sent: 31 August 2017 11:20
To: ‘Chris Loder
Cc: ‘LETWIN, Oliver’ ; ‘Antony Stanley’
Subject: My resignation from the Conservative Party
Dear Chris,
After the disastrous handling of the EU referendum result, the ludicrous decision to appoint one of the most incompetent and out-of-touch ministers as prime minister and her farcical election performance, I have been wrestling for some time as to whether to renew my membership. The Conservative Party is now far divorced from its fundamental principles of liberty and small government and Mrs May is an authoritarian bigot stuck in some 1950s delusion of what Britain is today.
Following her ridiculous announcement last night that she intends to stay on as leader I am now tendering my resignation forthwith. She has no mandate, no respect and in my view is held in utter contempt throughout the country. It is also self-evident that all other minsters are too weak, cowardly and neurotic about their own jobs to do anything to stop her.
Mrs May failed consistently over six years at the Home Office. She is a Remainer and should never have been permitted to lead the party or the country after the referendum result. Mrs May and all ministers failed entirely to plan for a leave vote and they have dithered, waffled, dodged and tripped up again and again, achieving absolutely nothing in the period since the result.
Brexit was a huge opportunity for the UK but the Conservative Party has wrecked it and damaged Britain irreparably in the process. If I had my way Mrs May would be led in chains out of Downing Street and placed in stocks in Parliament Square to endure the humiliation she so richly deserves.
I refer you to my article ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse UK Government Than This?’ which has produced the biggest response to anything I have ever written about politics in more than 30 years of journalism. It well sums up the tragic and diminished state in which she leaves our country.
https://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2017/08/06/has-there-ever-been-a-worse-uk-government-than-this/
Yours sincerely,
Peter Reynolds
