Councillor Pat Murphy and Kevin Donnelly would do better concentrating on improving the lives of local people rather than attempting to misrepresent Conservative Party policies and views (Letters August 7).

Tory activist Jonathan Sheppard, like myself, and hundreds of thousands of people across the country, are proud to belong to the Conservative Party. A party that is inclusive, open and tolerant. Proud that we put up openly gay candidate David Gold in the last General Election, that people like Alan Duncan no longer feel they have to hide their sexuality and that Theresa May is the first woman Conservative Party chairman.

Conservatism is all about choice.

-Carol Ramsden Ditchling Rise, Brighton