National issues vital to voters in county

Shropshire's election candidates face a tough task to win over the county's public, who look set to go to the polls on national issues.

The county vote will be based on what the national party leaders have to say for themselves, rather than the views of local MPs.

Indeed, many don't even know who their local MP is, let alone which party they might be from.

"I haven't got a clue who the local candidates are," said Margaret Howells, 85, from Shrewsbury.

"Sometimes they put leaflets through the door and then they're gone. You never get time to ask them anything and they're never there on polling day.

"At our age it doesn't really matter, but we will have to keep our eye on the national stuff."

And voting on the national agenda, rather than local policy, was a common theme.

Martyn Poynor, 51, from Shrewsbury, said the main party leaders would shape his decision.

"My vote will be based on the national agenda rather than the local one," he said.

"I think I will see what each party puts before me and assess the options. I'm not drawn in by one particular party and am still open to influence."

Businessman Mark Edwards, who owns Prego shoe shop in Shrewsbury, said he was also keeping a close eye on the national news before casting his vote.

He said: "I think you always have to vote. As a businessman I'm hoping that interest rates will remain low.

"The National Insurance tax will be an interesting one – it won't affect me too much because I haven't got a lot of staff. I understand what Alistair Darling is saying because we have to get the deficit down somehow, but I'm not sure that will make much difference."

And while many were still committed to voting, the portrayal of politicians – personified by the expenses scandal – has seen the public lose faith in politics.

Pat Roberts, 53, from Shifnal, said she had always voted but admitted to having second thoughts about turning out this year.

"I've had my doubts as to whether I would vote this time but I thought I must because I can't complain if I don't vote.

"The expenses scandal was ridiculous and it doesn't help when we're trying to get people to vote."

And Pat's son Michael, 25, said he was a rare breed when it came to young people's views on voting.

"None of my mates vote but if I can't vote I can't say 'that's a load of rubbish,'" he said.

"I have voted in the past and I will vote again. I want to see more jobs for young people – I've got two jobs at the minute but it's hard."

Carl Humes, 22, from Market Drayton, summed up the apathy shown by county youngsters towards the general election.

He said: "I won't be voting. I don't know who to believe and what they are all standing for.

"The expenses scandal annoyed me the most because when you or I want something we have to go out there and work for it whereas the politicians were just taking what they wanted. I can't really trust them."

And the current election campaign is doing little to entice the next generation of voter.

Eleven-year-old Edwyn Griffiths, from Wellington, can't have his say for another seven years but is already disillusioned with the way the two main parties – Labour and Conservative – have gone about their campaigning.

He said: "The things I've been noticing are these billboards and they are all ineffective. They're all on negative campaigning. They are saying don't vote for the other rather than vote for someone and you just don't know who to believe. The parties should have positive campaigning for themselves and shouldn't blow it out of proportion."