IN reply to Charles Johnson, Tory Party chairman for Durham and Cleveland, and his attack on socialism (HAS, Dec 27).

The reason we are here is because of people like you and the ideology that your party advocates.

The idea of profit before people at any cost, so that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. And also dividing and subduing working class people.

My late mother recalled to me the means test of Thirties Britain, where people like us were humiliated by people like you, and what your party represented then and now. We’ll keep the red flag flying thanks.

Steve Shields, Saltburn.

CHARLES Johnson (HAS, Dec 27) makes the ridiculous assertion that the coalition has a “mandate to govern”.

Am I being charitable in assuming that Mr Johnson didn’t read the Liberal Democrat’s election manifesto?

Dave Cook, Sacriston.