Hounding Toby Young

SIR – Toby Young has resigned from the board of the universities regulator following criticism of his past remarks.

This furore illustrates a change in society’s norms: we no longer worry about due process, evidence and the presumption of innocence. Instead, if a large enough mob gathers on social media, we let the target be pilloried – or strung up. Do we want democracy to be subverted by witch-finders? Keith Phair

Felixstowe, Suffolk

SIR – Toby Young has been an energetic champion of free schools, aiming to devolve control of a child’s education from the state to the parents themselves. This is anathema to the educational establishment.

Mr Young’s mindless historical tweets merely provided a smokescreen for hounding him out of a job he was singularly well-qualified to perform. Eric Sneddon

Marden, Kent