IN Tory Jim Tague’s latest tirade against socialism he claims to rely on historical “facts”. As an A Level history teacher, who specialises in Fascist Italy, I can assure him that the so-called “facts” he quotes are not facts at all. If he is obtaining this information from a text book, he should take it back and demand a refund.

He describes the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as “the leader of the Italian socialists”. He never was. As a young man, Mussolini was briefly a member of the Italian Socialist Party, but was expelled in 1915 because of his extreme right wing, pro-war views. Mussolini then formed his own party, the Fascists, in 1919 and three years later he was helped to become Prime Minister by Italian Conservatives.

While in power he murdered socialists and communists, including the leader of the Socialist Party, Giacomo Matteoti, who was hacked to death in broad daylight. Later the leader of the Italian Communist Party, Antonio Gramsci died as a result of ill treatment in one of Mussolini’s prisons.

I don’t mind anyone attacking socialism and always welcome political debate. However, debate should always be based upon reliable evidence.

John Gilmore, Bishop Auckland