YOUR lead article last week 'Tough choices for Youth Provision' highlighted the drastic cuts being proposed by the County Council for Devon's youth services. Conservative leaders in the Government seem to have abandoned 'one nation conservatism' and no longer believe that we all have a duty to care for the vulnerable. Tavistock County Councillor, Debo Sellis, stated 'none of us stood for council to cut budgets'. She made a similar comment a month ago at the Tavistock Town Council annual meeting, but then it was drastic cuts to services for elderly people which were under discussion. Her comments might suggest that she is a 'one nation conservative' who values local services, but is caught in an uncomfortable position because of cuts imposed by her party in Government. In any large organisation, some savings can be found, but most fair-minded people believe the proposed cuts in local services are too deep and are being implemented too quickly. Government is always about choices. This Government chose to give tax cuts to millionaires as one of its priorities. In last month's budget, the Government also announced that £2,000 a year childcare support would be paid, even to parents earning a whopping £300,000 a year. Bizarre choices: financial support for the very rich; cuts for frail elderly and vulnerable young people. These are clear examples that 'one nation conservatism' has been jettisoned. Let me offer a suggestion to Councillor Sellis. Rather than meekly implementing the Government's cuts, why not muster her fellow Conservative county councillors and threaten a mass resignation. The political shock wave would be immense, putting the Government under pressure to find more resources for the county. Of course, this might not be a good strategy for her party, but isn't it the best strategy for her electorate? Brendan Bold Leather Tor Yelverton