How to upset friends and foes

The open letter from John Clare, education editor of The Daily Telegraph , advising Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, of the only four education experts worth speaking to continues to ruffle feathers. Rumour has it that the man most offended is Chris Woodhead, former chief inspector of schools and Mr Clare's friend and climbing companion - not Alan Smithers, as we suggested last month. Woodhead's chagrin was apparently compounded by the inclusion of Barry Sheerman, outgoing chairman of the Commons Education and Skills Committee, with whom he has clashed on many occasions.