Voters weigh up the election options as polling day looms

Voters across the country have a more important choice to make than ever as a range of smaller parties such as UKIP and the Green Party vie to take votes from the traditional big hitters.

During the next four weeks Luke Sproule will be talking to five voters from across the county about who they plan to vote for and what they think of the election campaign.

This week our panellists gave us their thoughts on the start of the campaign and who they are thinking of voting for with four weeks to go.

OXFORD WEST AND ABINGDON

DR PETER HARBOUR, 75, retired physicist and lecturer. South Avenue, Abingdon “I went to the CPRE hustings at St Barnabas Church in Jericho on Thursday, April 9 – all the candidates were there except UKIP’s Alan Harris.

“I asked a question raising my concerns about the 40 per cent increase in housing across Oxfordshire – 100,000 new homes.

“I said: ‘I want you to look at what’s going to go wrong when you attempt that, particularly traffic congestion, and the reasons why 40 per cent might be too much’.

“The answers came back and not a single one said if elected they would go back to Parliament and try to do something about the primary legislation behind it.

“The most satisfactory answer came from [Lib Dem] Layla Moran, who at least echoed the thought that if it will be 100,000 homes in Oxfordshire then you could do without building the very small number planned for the Green Belt.”

WANTAGE

JULIE MABBERLEY, 57, part-time management consultant. Parsonage Close, Wantage “I have been listening to what is being said and the Conservatives seem to be giving lots of money away, but it is money they do not have.

“That would put me off. If they are saying things which are unrealistic why should we believe anything they say?

“As for Labour, raising the minimum wage is something I cannot see a reason for not doing.

“But freezing rail fares just means there will be no investment in railways.

“I am becoming more anti-Conservative but that is making my decision harder because there are less options.

“I am now considering my options.

“I would like to vote Lib Dem but I do not know if it would do any good.”

WITNEY

DAVID BATES, 55, works for Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action. Harvest Way, Witney “I went to the hustings in Witney on April 10 and it was very managed and a little bit disappointing.

“I did not really feel there was a strong winner. I thought they were decent guys without a lot to say.

“In terms of manifestos it soured my feelings towards the Conservatives.

“I disliked it when they came up with cutting inheritance tax as well as the idea about buying your own council home.

“The Greens have been talking more about diversity. Natalie Bennett has been doing well despite a slow start.

“She has been talking more in the sort of language I would like to hear.”

BANBURY

JOHN BROAD, 70, retired development engineer. Mallards Way, Bicester “I went to the hustings in Emmanuel Church (Bicester) on April 12.

“It was very interesting. It was the first time I had met all the candidates.

“Victoria Prentis came across as very positive but she is a Conservative so she will not get my vote because of her party’s policies.

“The Lib Dem candidate came across as positive as well in a sense.

“But the most impressive for me was Dickie Bird, the UKIP candidate.

“Now I have met him and heard him speak and seen him answer some questions I would be more convinced about voting for him.

“He was straightforward and honest and I would be leaning towards him as my number one choice.”

OXFORD EAST

AAMIR SHAHZAD, 30, taxi driver. Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys “I have been thinking about the Labour Party and about the Conservatives and I have reviewed the people who are going forward for our vote.

“I am looking at their positions on my big issues like immigration.

“I still have to decide who to vote for. I feel a big responsibility to vote but I am still not decided.

“In the local elections last year I voted for the Labour Party and I am thinking about doing that again.

“I think they have the right point of view about immigration and they want to create jobs.”