Ralph Leavis pours scorn on animal welfare campaigners who held a vigil for abused animals at the Martyrs’ Memorial, and asks the extremely provocative questions: “Are they really human?” He complains: “But who holds a vigil for Baby P, or De Menezes, or the girls raped by their father?” (OxfordMail, December 27).

If Mr Leavis is not to be accused of gross hypocrisy, then may I suggest to him that he goes to Martyrs’ Memorial and holds a candlelit vigil for the worthy causes that he supports. He would have my whole-hearted backing.

I very much doubt, however, that Mr Leavis has any intention of carrying out such a noble mission.

JIM CRAWFORD, Burton Place, Oxford