THE power and dominance Britain once enjoyed in world affairs is past.

Britain’s greatness evaporated in 1945. I believe we would have been better off if we had accepted that and relinquished this pretense of greatness and concentrated on being a country characterised by fair dealing, social justice and international co-operation I would prefer a Britain that jealously guarded the principle of habeas corpus and was less willing to do the bidding of US and where there was more willingness to accept the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, because they are consistent with international justice.

Richard Payne (HAS, May 14) comes from the same town as me but in his mind lives in a different world.

G Bulmer, Billingham