Sam Leith not the only Telegraph casualty

Is there anyone left to man the Daily Telegraph? Literary editor Sam Leith, who writes for The First Post today about being made redundant on Tuesday, is not the only one suffering. The editorial bloodbath began on Friday with the killing-off the obituaries editor Andrew McKie. Since then, motoring editor Peter Hall has driven south and as many as 50 more journalists have either gone or are due to go before Christmas.

Leith's departure was one of the biggest surprises. He is the eldest son of journalist and royal book author Penny Junor, and grandson of the legendary Sunday Express editor Sir John Junor. He'd been at the Telegraph for nearly 10 years, and was well regarded for his books pages and for a weekly column on the paper's comment pages. "You really have to be suffering as a business to get rid of young people of that quality," said one senior journalist.

Let's hope all those fired have read the article "Protect yourself against redundancy - If the worst occurs, here's how to soften the blow", helpfully published by the Telegraph exactly a month ago.

In it, personal finance reporter Kara Gammell writes: "If your employer is getting rid of 20 or more staff, it has to consult your union or an employee representative before staff are given notice. This should take place more than 30 days before the redundancies, or 90 days if more than 100 employees are to lose their jobs.

"You should also be consulted individually by your employer ­ if this does not happen, you have grounds to sue for unfair dismissal. Anyone faced with redundancy should have a 'dismissal meeting' where their severance package is discussed."

Did someone just say "Bring back Conrad Black, all is forgiven"? Surely not.

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