Oliver Dowden’s tactics in writing to the BBC director general are clear: attack the messenger in order to undermine the message (BBC stands firm against minister’s criticism of Panorama show on PPE, 3 May). Can he honestly be surprised that several of those who expressed their frustrations on the programme were Labour supporters? After all, the fundamental NHS aspiration to treat each patient according to their needs is part of what is essentially a socialist ethos. The fact is that Mr Dowden has no proper answer to the Panorama accusations and so has to resort to an ad hominem attack on the professionals who contributed to the programme. A comparable attack could be made on Mr Dowden’s fitness, as a government spokesperson, to pontificate on the vital issues of the moment. Until becoming an MP, his professional life has been in the Conservative research department, in a PR company, and as a special adviser for David Cameron. However, such an attack would be equally irrelevant to the questions of NHS funding and of the government’s response to the current crisis. Richard Burtle Laceby, Lincolnshire • Oliver Dowden’s complaint to the BBC about the Panorama programme on PPE should be seen for what it is: a classic propaganda ploy of authoritarian regimes. Encountering negative media stories, they automatically try to discredit the sources. Critics have to defend their journalism. Even if the sources prove to be authentic, attention has been deflected away from the main issue. Would that the BBC could reply with one sentence. Never mind who made the allegations, are they true? Chas Critcher Sheffield • Oliver Dowden has criticised the Panorama investigation, though your report of his complaint does not give any factual errors in the programme, only that some people in it may be “leftwing activists”. And where would we be without some of them? He says that “the public should be able to turn to the BBC for transparent, unimpeachable, reliable news”. Which is more than we get from the government’s press briefings. Mr Dowden should understand that truth is not defined as just what he wants us to know. Martin Cooper Bromley, Kent