In recent years it has become widely accepted, even by Communist Party members, that Hungary 1956 was no counter-revolution, and that the Russian invasion was wrong. So it came as a genuine shock to read a piece in the Morning Star of 15 May, headed: “Despite its best efforts, you can still see socialism in Budapest” with a sub-heading that includes the words “Infamous for the misunderstood events of 1956”. By “misunderstood” it’s clear that the author (one John Pateman) does not mean the Stalinist lies about a “counter-revolution” — quite the contrary.