From Dr David Schofield.

Sir, BP leadership has a lot more to be disappointed about than the FT's interpretation of its internal memos (Tony Hayward's letter, December 19). Given the human and economic cost of BP's failures, a smarter response to some thorough and insightful journalism would have been for Lord Browne to have endorsed the analysis of Mr Hayward, BP's exploration chief, and additionally to have accepted his own distinctive role in shaping the BP leadership culture. As it stands, the BP response resonates of internal wrist-smacking and the continued collective denial of a systemic problem.