IT was odd to see Gordon Brown being the courteous host to Margaret Thatcher because they are supposed to represent opposite poles of the political spectrum.

I am sure that both parties will have thought through what they saw themselves achieving politically. Both were trying to eclipse the efforts of David Cameron to get publicity for a report he was wanting to highlight as a contribution to a manifesto yet to be finalised for the next General Election.

To me, what they did was indicate that both of them equally represent a view of politics which I totally reject. It is only coincidental that one reckons he is Labour and she reckons she is Conservative. Both are a drag on their own parties.

Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.