Simon Jenkins says “Parliament and public opinion backed him [Anthony Eden] all the way” in relation to the 1956 Suez debacle (May can learn to compromise with a political tip from 1846, 18 January). But opinion in parliament and among the public was bitterly divided. I well remember Hugh Gaitskell’s impassioned speeches condemning the illegality of the operation and Nye Bevan addressing a huge crowd in Trafalgar Square. In my workplace, aged 17, I became aware of just how divisive politics could be, with my colleagues divided pretty well 50-50 for and against. Suez, Iraq and now Brexit stand out as the three times during my life that the country has been so bitterly, and almost equally, divided on a major issue.

Dr John Coad

Loanhead, Midlothian

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition