As the General Election battle nears its conclusion, NIKKI MITCHELL spoke to The Press Reader Panel about their views of the 2010 campaign and who they believe will win.

LIZ EDGE, 72, of York, said: “The campaigns have been boring because there have been so many similarities between the three main parties.

I feel Gordon Brown has been badly treated by the media over his ‘bigot’ comment, because David Cameron made a remark about special needs children which was not focused on as much.

Mr Cameron would make a good used car salesman and he has been the biggest disappointment. After the televised debates. I was shocked at how he could not cope with the job under pressure.

Nick Clegg has been the biggest surprise of the campaign and without doubt the best promoter, because he has the most to gain and the least to lose. In ten years he could be Prime Minister.

I have a feeling Labour will win by a short straw, but because of the political system, not the number of votes.”


GEORGE APPLEBY, 81, of Clifton, York, said: “The campaigns are pretty much neck-and-neck.

All the parties have been strong, but it depends very much on what they are trying to push forward and what appeals to people.

It has been very well-fought across the board and David Cameron is showing plenty of signs, but no positive destinations.

He needs to expand on his points. It’s not possible to say who will win at this stage, because there are so many possible outcomes. But many older people are not voting as they have been put off by the system and politics in general.”


TIMOTHY WALKER, 45, of Rawcliffe, York, said: “The campaigns have been very low-key and not very exciting, but it could turn into an interesting election night.

The main feature has been the Nick Clegg factor as he has been centre-stage and has come from nowhere to the position where he may possibly get the most votes. Gordon Brown has been the worst at campaigning.

I believe he has no way of getting back after calling a voter names while still having a microphone on. I think the election will be close and none of the parties will get an overall majority, meaning a hung Parliament.

It is then a case of seeing which two parties form a coalition, and a Labour-Lib Dem coalition would be the desirable outcome for me, but it is too close to call.”


KEITH BALDRY, 64, of Selby, said: “Nick Clegg has been the best leader during the campaign and Gordon Brown has been the worst. But not one of the three main parties has addressed the issue of crime.

They said they would be clamping down on knife crime, but they haven’t, so we will just have to fall in line with whoever gets in. I wouldn’t like to say for definite at this stage who is going to win, but I think it will probably be the Conservatives.

Although I would like to see a diplomat get in, it will probably be David Cameron, but I certainly won’t be voting for Gordon Brown again.”


LESLEY LICKLEY, 49, of York, said: “I watched all the televised debates and Nick Clegg came out on top, with Gordon Brown being the worst of the leaders. David Cameron made a late run and was really good in the last debate, being more relaxed.

I felt a bit sorry for Mr Brown over his gaffe last week, because although somebody of his importance should be more careful, it could have happened to anybody. But unless the leaders have set questions, they are out on a limb when it comes to speaking to the public.

My husband and I have a bet on who is going to win the election and I believe it will be Labour with a majority of less than ten per cent, while he thinks it will be a hung Parliament.”