Regional racism

It was interesting to see the piece on institutionalised racism ("Too few black staff in FE", THES , July 5). But there is another form of internal discrimination: that operating against staff from the northern counties, especially Lancashire and Yorkshire. One only has to see the derision to which John Prescott is routinely subjected to recognise the deep prejudice operating against people from these counties.

Perhaps there should be a policy of positive discrimination operating in staffing and promotional matters to bring them up to their proportionate share of the community.

A. J. H. Latham
Department of history
University of Wales