Sir, Following the defection of Emma Nicholson to the Liberal Democrats, John Major's position seems indeed shaky. Not only has he a nominal Commons majority of only three, thus forcing him into a de facto coalition with the Ulster unionists, but there is open talk of splits within the Tory ranks leading to the formation of a breakaway party.
The implications of all this for the peace process are obvious. As the recent killing in Lurgan makes plain, the Provo hawks are straining at the leash. Impatience at the lack of progress towards all party talks is the cause of their frustration.
Major given his increased dependence on unionist votes, has even less room to manoeuvre than before. The price of his deciding to proceed to all party talks might be a general election. However, the price of his not proceeding may well be a return to the gun indeed, the killing in Lurgan, the fifth in five weeks, may be part of a slow but inevitable return to violence.
Given these factors, it might be no bad idea for Major himself to call a general election. It seems unlikely that he can endure for much longer in any ease, and calling an election to save the peace process would be a nobler way to go than being forced into one by the unionists or his own Euro rebels. A snap general election might do more, than save the peace process in wrong footing his own rebels before they can set up a breakaway party, he just might save the Conservative Party itself. Yours, etc.,
€4, University of East Anglia, Norwich,