THANK you for publishing such riveting information about the leaders of the two main political parties in Southampton, who were contesting the right to lead Southampton City Council in the recent elections (‘Head to Head’, Daily Echo, April 28).

I regret the current practice of political parties, certainly in Eastleigh, of filling election literature with posed photographs of candidates, which tell the voters only one thing about them: the political party they are standing for. Let us have more personality in politics in future.

We should be told about the background and experience of those who imagine they have the necessary qualities and experience to represent us.

Now that we are expected to reimburse councillors so handsomely, we need this information to assess their likely competence, the time they will be able to devote to public service and their interest in us.

DIANE ANDREWES, Old Bursledon.