I FOUND the letter headlined “Independence day” from Bob Norton of Middlesbrough (HAS, Mar 25) very intriguing.

While manifestos at national level are given a high profile, one has to question whether local manifestos are given the same priority. There are in many borough, mayoral and local elections running in parallel with the general election. In these boroughs, local manifestos will have similarities with the national manifestos.

I resigned from the Labour Party with ten others in Redcar and Cleveland due to a flawed Labour Party selection process, and we are now the New Independent Group. We are getting scrutinised by Labour about what the New Independents’ manifesto.

Having been involved in writing many local manifestos in my 25-plus years as a councillor including 16 in a leadership position, I don't recall one person on the doorstep asking me about a manifesto. That may be a shock to many people, but the voters always seemed to be focused on the economy, jobs, the NHS, benefits, the environment and immigration. 

Whatever happens in May, the election promises to be the most uncertain in a generation. Would that be because despite all of the hype, there's not much more than a cigarette paper between the main parties, with or without manifesto promises?

Could it be that the electorate is turning to minor parties and independents because the main political parties haven't delivered on their manifestos?

Cllr George Robert Dunning, New Independents, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.