THE historian AJP Taylor was once asked what was the use of studying history. He replied that it was of no use at all! – as the only point of history was to learn from our past mistakes, and that was something the human race were clearly unable to do.

Watching the results of the UKIP gains in the County Council elections, it is clear that a section of the British public have forgotten the history – if they ever knew it – of the rise of National Socialism in Germany in the early 1930's. There, with their people facing austerity and deprivation as we in Europe, to a lesser extent, are now, the Nazis brought out the worst in the German psyche with their rants.

It is my personal experience that the majority of the British public, and the vast majority of Foresters, are tolerant and compassionate people who reject those who hate. But we must remember "that for evil to triumph it only requires that good men do nothing".

UKIP may seem like a small threat at the moment, and we might dismiss them as "clowns", but we must speak out against intolerance and injustice where ever it occurs, and refuse to be manipulated by the hate-mongers.

– John French, Brockweir.