SIR – The American electoral system still eludes me – I cannot equate Democrat and Republican with Conservative or Labour.

Barack Obama spoke to a live audience of 85,000 in Denver, a city of 555,000, which is more than 15 per cent of the people – and this is not unique. Similar turnouts happen in other US towns.

Compare this to the apathy in England. I cannot imagine a crowd of 72,000 turning out to see a politician in Liverpool, or 38,000 in Nottingham or Wolverhampton, numbers for the pro rata population!

Even 380 people would be a bonanza political meeting in England.

I am puzzled by this enormous enthusiasm and wonder how we can import some here. Until we do, politics in this country is totally dead.

STANLEY D PARR,

Pershore.