Whether or not you vote may well depend on your religious orientation, according to a study published in Social Science Quarterly.

The survey of 1,712 adults concluded that people who see God as being directly involved in world affairs — for example, evangelical Protestants — were less likely to vote. However, Jews who see God as a little more laissez-faire tended to go to the polls more regularly.

The Labour Party may hope Christians are nearer the mark, because if current opinion polls are correct, it looks as if only God can save Gordon Brown now.