SIR As an amateur psephologist (one who studies electoral systems and voting trends), I found last week's council election results fascinating to analyse, particularly as Bradford recorded a voting pattern quite different from the rest of the country, actually increasing by six its number of Labour councillors.
The share of the votes differed greatly from the national average, the two major parties tying here on 31 per cent each (against 39 per cent and 26 per cent nationally).
But possibly the most interesting data is to be found in the relative turnout figures.
Surprisingly high turnouts were recorded in many wards with no historic tradition of mass participation, particularly in some inner city areas.
Food here, perhaps, for psephologists nationwide to conduct a fuller analysis and speculate on the likely causes?
But I'm sure the local returning officer is deeply comforted with this apparently new-found enthusiasm for the democratic process!
Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon, Shipley
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