20 MAY 2000, Page 29

In praise of Oakley

From Patricia Bate Sir: How disgraceful that our (and your) own Robin Oakley should be pushed aside a year early from his post as BBC political editor — on the flimsy pretext of not want- ing a handover during the run-up to an election — to make way for an apparently more Corporation-acceptable appointee.

I hope it costs the BBC a packet so that Mrs Oakley may continue to be kept in the style to which she has become accustomed.

Nevertheless, we shall miss his educated, measured and impartial commentaries. Patricia Bate

Rochester,