REGARDING the self-styled “anti-fascists” who used violence to try to stop Jacob Rees-Mogg’s speech at the University of Western England recently, I thought readers might like to know we have our very own bunch of anti-fascist groups in the North-East.

For example, there’s the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association.

Readers might also like to know that North-East local authorities have been donating roughly £10,000 a year to these groups for the last ten years or more. I discovered that via freedom of information requests made to North-East local authorities.

Quite what local councillors think they are doing giving council tax payers’ money to groups like this, I’m not sure. If readers are happy with that use of their money, then OK. If not, I suggest they contact their councillors and make their views plain.

As to exactly which local authorities have made these donations, it seems to be the ones near Newcastle – Newcastle Gateshead and Sunderland councils – rather than those in the south of County Durham.

Ralph Musgrave, Durham