I DO not understand why: a) Anybody on the electoral register is deemed competent to participate in the Police and Crime Commissioners’ election, and; b) Extra-parliamentary bodies, largely funded by trade unions and wealthy individuals, that influence the selection of Members of Parliament, are permitted also to select (and, presumably, help to finance) candidates for election as commissioners.

On Thursday, I left home for London before 7am, so visited my local polling station only after returning home (after 9pm).

I was assured that I was not the first elector to attend, but may well have been the last!

I spoiled my ballot with the observation: “I do not consider candidates with party-political affiliations are appropriate; and I was not sufficiently impressed by the independent candidates to award them my vote.”

MICHAEL STANLEY

Cheney Lane

Oxford