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Paul Cobley (Letters, May 14) proposes the bold hypothesis that peer review can be compromised by snobbery, that this is more pronounced between those whose institutions are of almost equal status and that my "attack" on Mo Dodson (Letters, April 30) is to be understood in this spirit as I work at a new university and not at Oxbridge. But in the same letter I also "attacked" an Oxbridge academic and I note, for the benefit of those who care about such things, that Brighton University ranks 68th out of 100 compared with London Metropolitan's 98th place in last year's Times rankings.

A true snob would not consider this a "subtle graduation" in status.

Richard Faragher
Brighton University (one below Portsmouth)