THE accepted rationale for the demotion of Michael Gove, the former Education Secretary, is No10 considered he’d become toxic to middleclass voters, especially teachers (Echo, July 17). I think there’s more to it; if toxicity were a reliable gauge then Iain Duncan Smith would have been fired from a cannon.

Michael Gove, a former journalist, and his wife Sarah Vine have twice recently been the guests of Viscount and Viscountess Rothermere, latterly at their stately home Ferne Park and before that for a weekend at their chateau in the Dordogne. As the Rothermeres, as owners of the Daily Mail, may shortly require a new editor, this situation will have been noticed by No 10.

Also Mr Gove may once have fancied his chances of becoming the next leader of the Tories but his recent bruising disagreement with Theresa May, another front runner for the leadership, may have convinced him that he’s going nowhere.

Personally, I feel he is unsuited for politics at the highest level. Although he’s glib, it sits uneasily with a supercilious attitude. He also makes too many enemies. He should be entirely suited to journalism.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.