THE Press will be bringing you the views of our reader panel in the run-up polling day. They told Jamie Thunder where they think the race for Westminster will be won and lost.

LIZ EDGE SAYS: “The key issues will be maintaining what progress we’ve made on the recession and not jeopardising the recovery. One of my main concerns is that people are so disenchanted with politics, they won’t get round to voting. We’ve got democracy and the vote – we need to use it.”

GEORGE APPLEBY SAYS: “It seems we’re getting to the end of all the banter. As far as I’m concerned, the key issues are to put an end to the two-party system we’ve had since the 1960s. I’ve seen a few elections and, in view of the damage done to the public perception of their representatives at Westminster and the bank crisis which is down to both major parties, it’s probably the most important one I’ll see.”

TIM WALKER SAYS: “I’m pleased it’s been called because it’s been a period of uncertainty. We had a fairly lightweight budget which didn’t really address the issues, and it’s time for a Government to come in and map out the economy. For the past six months, the right decisions haven’t been made, because they would be unpopular, such as the tax rises and spending cuts which any Government will have to put in place.”

LESLEY LICKLEY SAYS: “It’s the worst-kept secret in the world – we’ve had enough waiting around. I think employment, law and order and education – the usual suspects – will be the main issues, but for me, the key will be employment because I’ve been made redundant as a result of the recession. The difference between Labour and the Conservatives is difficult to find.”

CHRIS LANIGAN SAYS: “It’s time to get on with it. The dominating issue will be the economy and recession and how we deal with it. I don’t believe any of the pronouncements from the leaders about how we deal with the cuts, but I always think, in these situations, it comes down to a matter of trust. My priorities are traditional ones – education, health and immigration – and, as a Christian, I feel it’s important we treat it with some humanity.”

KEITH BALDRY SAYS: “We’ll have to see what comes out of it. There are a lot of issues – crime, for a start, which I think keeps getting put to one side. At the minute, there is a lot being said about the war in Afghanistan, and immigration keeps cropping up. But once a party gets in, no matter who it is, they will just go their way.”

DEE PATTON-STATHAM SAYS: “Education is the thing I’ve really been looking at, and I really do think the election will make a difference. It could still go either way and, for the first time in a long time, people will actually have to make a decision. Both main parties are not widely different from each other on the issues, so people will start to look at the small print and how things will affect them personally.”