How sneaky that Brighton and Hove City Council has held secret meetings. I refer, of course, to the case of Councillor Dawn Barnett and the points put forward by Keith Jago (Letters, December 30).

The world has indeed gone stark raving mad. Like Coun Barnett, I grew up with pots of jam with the images of a golliwog on them. I also had badges – I’ve probably still got them somewhere.

It was part of our heritage. They were treated with great affection and, in fact, still are by us oldies.

It was part of our upbringing. Who are the do-gooders who dare change our lives because it doesn’t suit their cause?

I would use football as a comparison. Once the game has started, you can’t move the goal posts. Us oldies should be given a bit of slack.

Just as a matter of interest, if people from a different country set up shop and sell Barbie dolls in their shops – and they do – would that be classed as racist? I doubt it! It is all getting a bit one-sided.

I believe that Brighton and Hove City Council itself is guilty of bringing the council into disrepute – the whole case is a joke. More importantly, as far as I am concerned, they are guilty of ageism.

They are making charges against my age group due to the beliefs we were taught. Now they want to retrospectively penalise us – I don’t think so.

Chris Harvey-Jones, Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton