l The Insider (Thursday’s Oxford Mail) reports that county council leader Keith Mitchell has personally insulted Dr Evan Harris for expressing opinions about threats to the NHS.

Dr Harris has every right to express such opinions, especially as he is a doctor. He knows what he is talking about.

Keith Mitchell has an unpleasant habit of insulting people personally, such as when he called protesters against government cuts an “ugly, badly-dressed rabble”.

I see that Mr Mitchell is a member of the Country Gentlemen’s Association.

Surely real gentlemen are never so rude as to insult people in the childish way that Mr Mitchell keeps doing? Perhaps he is not entirely a country gentleman.

Tony Augarde, Carlton Road, Oxford