I find myself in the unusual position of wanting, and needing, to defend a Tory.

In this case , I refer to Councillor Dawn Barnett (pictured below) and her views on golliwogs (The Argus, November 25).

As usual, the PC brigade, has put its own totalitarian spin on this woman’s opinions.

In a free and democratic society, everyone has a right to express their opinions and feelings openly.

The right to critique any, and all, viewpoints is also paramount and sacrosanct.

So here is mine: these toys are a vital tool in teaching children about the history of enslavement and transportation of African people.

They are part of the fabric of our social history.

As such, they should be contextualised and consigned to history.

This will also be a good place to teach children how the principle of “habeas corpus” – meaning the right to be tried by a court – brought about the abolition of slavery in Britain.

Equally, it is important that we all understand this law is the absolute bedrock of freedom and democracy.

We should cherish, preserve and protect it – it is our greatest defence against injustice.

The reasons for the supposed “outrage” at this woman’s comments prove how we, as a multi-cultural society, have moved forward in terms of what we know to be the truth.

Do we also ban gay pride parades in case someone finds them offensive?

Do we ban anyone who offers an alternative opinion to our own?

Do we censor the freedom of the press? No – this would be a gross act of fascism.

I would suggest that people ignore this ridiculous infringement of a person’s right to freedom of speech, thoughts and actions.

Kenny Lloyd, Norway Street, Portslade

I was appalled to learn it is recommended that Coun Barnett be found guilty of bringing Brighton and Hove City Council into disrepute for defending a nostalgic love of golliwog imagery.

There is a totally reasonable case to be made for seeing golliwogs as nostalgic, not racist.

Nothing stays the same in this world: symbols and words are subject to many meanings and changes over time.

Who today would look at a swastika and fail to see Hitler’s fascist tyranny or to associate it with 1930s Germany and the Second World War? Anyone displaying it would be hounded and pilloried for promoting fascism.

It is, in fact, an ancient Hindu and Buddhist symbol celebrating life and wellbeing. It is now damaged goods.

The word “gay” once meant joyful happiness but it now describes a sexual orientation.

Using this word the old way now feels uncomfortable.

Should LGBT people be complained about for hijacking this word any more or less than Coun Barnett should be complained about for identifying golliwogs as nostalgia?

Golliwogs are a superb piece of design. They are vintage, happy-faced, cartoon ragdolls from my grandparents’ time.

And because we love them, we feel nostalgic affection.

Racism, however, is about rejection and it is the complainants doing the rejecting of golliwogs because black cloth and ink are used for the face.

And it is racists who see a black victim where most people just see a cartoon ragdoll.

It shocks me to learn that the council’s Black and Minority Ethnic Workers’ Forum is one of the complainants.

It is surely this forum which risks bringing the local authority into disrepute by forcing the council to spend money on this.

Valerie Paynter, Clarendon Road, Hove