Election 2015: Meet our panel of Londoners who will dissect parties' promises and policies

 
Strong views: The Evening Standard’s People’s Panel
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Meet the Londoners who will be making sure David Cameron and the other party leaders stay focused on the needs and hopes of the capital during the election campaign.

The Evening Standard’s People’s Panel of 12 voters will be giving their verdicts on the policies and promises of those who want to run the country. Drawn from across the political spectrum, from all walks of life, they will dissect the policies politicians hope to sell to the nation by May 7.

The latest opinion polls suggest this will be one of the most closely fought and unpredictable elections in decades. The battle for Number 10 is well and truly under way and will only intensify as the main parties publish their manifestos in the coming days and weeks.

Whether it is business, the NHS, housing, welfare or transport, our panel will tell it like it is.

First-time buyers

First-time buyers: Richard Duxbury and Sophie Nguyen-Thomas

Richard Duxbury and Sophie Nguyen-Thomas, both 26

Work in film post-production in Soho. The couple are renting in Enfield while they attempt to save to buy a home of their own.

Richard: “I was still a student at the last election. Since then I’ve moved to London and found renting here to be modern-day serfdom. I used to support the Conservatives but can’t any more, they only support homeowners.”

Sophie: “I’ll be voting for the first time at this election. Housing is the key issue for me, and I don’t know who to vote for — all the policies duck the fact that we’re being stifled as a generation and desperately need a radical solution, not small gestures.”

Disabled public transport user

Public transport: Jackie Venus, 52

Jackie Venus, 52

RNIB campaigner and former teacher, receives disability benefit and is partially sighted, from Twickenham.

“My key issue is the NHS. Less concentration on administration and targets and more on recruitment and staffing. I’m still leaning towards our constituency MP Vince Cable because he does such a good job locally.”

Disillusioned floating voter

Disillusioned: Edward Adoo

Edward Adoo, 35

DJ and broadcaster from North Cricklewood.

“I come from a family of Labour voters but last time I broke ranks and voted Lib-Dem, now I’m disillusioned. I’m considering voting Green in May but I’m still undecided.

I would need to trust a party that represents what London is all about in terms of housing and investment for transport — in particular more transport links in the suburbs — along with making sure the working class are given opportunities.”

Businesswoman

Businesswoman: Georgie Jones

Georgie Jones, 34

Co-runs flexible childcare agency Like Minders, lives with husband Laurence and their two children in Richmond.

“At the moment, I would vote Conservative because they have better policies — the Coalition’s done well so far. I did have belief in Cameron and Osborne as a partnership and I really dislike Ed Miliband. One of the big issues is inheritance tax and, obviously, childcare will be important to me — so whichever one has the best ideas on that.”

White van woman

Emma Lanman, 31

Self-employed and runs Tottenham-based Van Girls removals, from Crouch End.

“A living wage is a big issue for me and politicians demanding big companies pay properly. I’m keen on a return to a fair welfare state, rather than what seems to be a punitive approach to benefits by this Conservative government. I’m looking forward to TV debates and the Conservatives talking about the NHS, when they are trying not to.”

Lawyer

Lawyer: Jasvir Singh

Jasvir Singh, 34

Barrister, family law specialist, single, living in Vauxhall.

“I would like a majority Labour government, but at the moment that looks highly unlikely. Key issues for me are the economy, the NHS, Legal Aid cutbacks and the impact upon the most vulnerable in society, keeping the Union together, and remaining in the EU. I also believe that there needs to be better support in place for start-ups and SMEs.”

NHS worker

GP: Dr Allswell Eno

Dr Allswell Eno, 49

GP at a Tooting practice with 11,000 patients. Lives in Streatham/Tooting area.

“The choices aren’t wonderful. Economic stability is important, I don’t want a return to the crash of 2008. I don’t want whoever comes in to tamper any further with GP contracts — we’ve had this every 5-10 years. I’d like more support for GPs and hospital consultants. I’d like support for my bLack of Respect Campaign, which calls for people to be described by heritage rather than ‘colour’.”

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur: Eileen Burbidge

Eileen Burbidge, 43

Mother of four from Highgate and a partner in start-up technology financing firm Passion Capital.

“I’m a first-time UK voter and naturalised citizen, having been resident in London for the last 11 years. Of particular interest to me is each party’s respective views on — and support and understanding of — business, SMEs, entrepreneurship, the digital economy and overall UK economic health and growth.”

Stay-at-home mother

Campaigner: Lynne Burnham of Mothers at Home Matter pressure group

Lynne Burnham, 53

Campaigner, from Surrey, for Mothers at Home Matter pressure group.

“Rather than spend billions of pounds subsidising third-party childcare, we suggest that the money follow the child. We want parents to decide how the money is spent, whether to use it for childcare costs or to offset the cost of a parent being at home.

I think it’s going to be one of the most exciting general elections for a long time. I’m convinced it’s going to be a hung parliament with no clear winner.”

High earner

High earner: Ross Marshall

Ross Marshall, 34

Chief executive of Yourgolftravel, from Kensington and Chelsea.

“I have voted for New Labour and for the Conservative Party in the recent past. Having grown our business through the credit crisis and a tough recession, the two main things that would sway my vote would be the credibility of the senior members of the party and their team that would be responsible for managing the continued recovery of our economy, and also how any significant changes in tax law will affect my business and the prosperity of our employees.”

Pensioner

Pensioner: Janet Shapiro

Janet Shapiro, 75

Former mathematics and management science lecturer, secretary of Hornsey Pensioners Action Group and grandmother of two.

“I’m looking for a decent economic policy because the austerity measures that have been taken are bad economics, they make the situation in the country worse. I want to see people paid more because wages have gone down and the basic state pension is below the poverty line. If I were just on the basic state pension I’m not sure how I would manage.”

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