If Mrs Gates of Sompting (Opinion, May 31) took a journey from her seaside comfort to parts of our capital city, she would find scenes of poverty and squalor that would bring to life the accusations made by the German magazine she pooh-poohs.

Indeed, on a nationwide basis, millions of our citizens are not allowed the basic right of a living wage or pension that can raise their families above the level of penury.

Our political parties will make token promises and then forget them again after the General Election.

As for Hitlerism and its foul legacy, Mrs Gates, there's no need to travel to Germany - visit Oldham.

-William Fraser, Summerheath Road, Hailsham