Surely Ruth Miskin is being disingenuous when suggesting there can be no link between the content of the revised national curriculum and the content of her phonic teaching schemes. The work she has done on her commercial material cannot fail to influence, for better or worse, the advice she offers.

Equally, her participation in the review would give her a flying start at revising her materials compared with her commercial rivals. In both these respects, her position would be compromised. As the National Association for the Teaching of English argues, she should resign and continue her all too successful lobbying from the sidelines.

Professor Colin Richards, Spark Bridge, Cumbria.