THE socialists fought the fascists in Spain, on the streets of Britain and in Germany.

Even before the second World War had begun, socialists were among those sent as prisoners to the Nazi concentration camps.

Had the socialists not warned the world about Hitler, had Winston Churchill and others not woken up to their warnings, had not people of so many vastly differing races, creeds and colours not united against the Nazis, then the Swastika would now be over Downing Street and David Ward (HAS, Jan 3) would not exist as his ancestors would have been murdered by the conquering Nazis.

This country is in a mess, and the ideological game of “my politics is better than your politics” now being played in HAS doesn’t help anyone.

The problems we all face can only be solved by working together, taking the best ideas each side has to offer.

C T Riley, Spennymoor