Sir - Just why are the parties apparently destined for a photo finish on May 7th? It seems that after 5 years of navigating by torchlight through coalition gloom the public don't quite know who to trust and seem to be looking for the least untrustworthy rather than having full confidence .

So few straight answers on any detail and the bold costly promises to 'hard working families' raise sceptical questions.

Labour are commonly perceived as financially incompetent and the Conservatives as likely to hive off too much to the wealthiest and trade away state assets.

And there are a rainbow of rosettes through the increased choice of parties for the electorate. The end of the two party monopoly.

The grip of the tabloids as exemplified in 1992 with 'The Sun Wot Won it" on electoral destiny has been finally lost. The impasse reflects the extent of the division in society as well as the lack of a technicolor vision for a better future.

No one party seems to have a plan and direction that unites the country. It's inconceivable that anyone could ever again take an exciting and representative victory as Labour did in 1997 with a majority closer to 200 than the horse trading which awaits us now.

There aren't politicians as ideologically powerful and influential as Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair who whilst both becoming electoral liabilities in the end were able to decisively win and retain power in their own right and become iconic as hated or revered depending on your perspective.

No Prime Minister was actually 'elected' by majority since 2004. Whatever the reasons it remains as an uninspiring stalemate and in just a few weeks who gets the keys will be clear.

Hopefully no need for a second election anytime soon.

Andrew Brown

WORCESTER