SUCH a shame that Faith Eckersall allows jealousy and feminism to get in the way of serious reporting, specifically her remarks (July 25) about the Earl and Countess of Wessex and also local MP Richard Drax.

Faith Eckersall refers to Mr Drax’s comments about women being promoted to the cabinet and infers ‘sexism’ and ‘prejudice’ because he is alleged to have said David Cameron has allowed “tokenism to burst upon us like a thunderstorm”.

It had become common knowledge that Mr Cameron was going to promote more women into the cabinet with a total disregard for experience or wisdom.

I would like to believe that Mr Drax would prefer like many of us that promotion was based on merit irrespective of gender or race.

I’m sure that if Faith Eckersall was ever unfortunate enough to need an operation in hospital she would want the best surgeon to do the job, not one that had been promoted due to gender or race quotas in the quest for equality.

No doubt in the fullness of time the ladies promoted to the cabinet will become very able ministers.

However I am sure that many women MPs would want to be promoted on merit and have nothing to do with tokenism. Shame on David Cameron for going down this road.

C D MOYES, Harkwood Drive, Hamworthy