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| Election 2010: Meet our Readers' Panel |
The News of the World is determined to cut through the spin as Britain goes election crazy, and find the issues that REALLY matter to you.
So we've signed up eight people from across the country to give their views as the country goes to the polls.
Our top readers' panel will tell us their biggest concerns and fiercest opinions over the coming weeks, before letting us know who they will vote for on May 6.
And the no-nonsense group is sure to put Gordon Brown and David Cameron through their paces...
Annabel Marshall-Foster, 41, is a full-time mum to Charlotte, 14, and Jack, nine. She lives in Oughtibridge, Sheffield, with her husband Paul, 51, an accountant.
Annabel voted for Labour in the last election, and she says education is the biggest issue for her.
She said: "I'm worried about the school system in this country. Class sizes are too big, and teachers just don't stretch the more able kids.
"If you live on the wrong side of the city and have the wrong postcode, then you can't get your children into the best schools because they are oversubscribed."
Businessman Mark Melluish, 56, runs his own firm Rutland Telecom in Leicester.
The company, which is the first UK communications provider to deliver high speed broadband to rural villages through hi-tech wires, employs eight people.
Mark lives in Rutland and is married to Deborah, 51. He has two daughters Hannah, 26, Briony, 22, and a granddaughter Maisie, 15 months.
He voted Conservative in last election, and is furious about Labour's planned hike in National Insurance.
He said: "Next year is going to be hard for small businesses because of the proposed increase in national insurance.
"We're just starting to come out of the recession so British firms need all the help we can get. The banks are making it almost impossible for small businesses to get public money."
Single mum Rebecca Georgiadis, 44, lives in Teddington, Middlesex, with her nine year old daughter Athena.
She receives child benefit and income support, but will be switched onto job seekers' allowance when Athena is 10 next year.
Rebecca, who voted for Lib Dem in the last election, says Gordon Brown is a "turn off".
She is worried about schools being oversubscribed, and says the benefits system should be sorted out.
Rebecca said: "There should be more work on a job share basis to help working mums who need to be flexible. We’re trying to raise the next generation."
Zara Jones, 21 from Wales, is unemployed after graduating from university last summer.
She didn't vote in the last election, but is keen to back the party who will do most to help people find work.
Zara said: "I think its vital that politicians sort out the economy because the job market is absolutely terrifying.
"So many people are going to university and going straight on the dole when they finish. It makes me feel like I did my degree for nothing."
Mary Lacey, 71, is a pensioner who lives in Plymouth.
She has an impressive five children, six stepchildren, 38 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Mary voted for the Conservatives in the last election. She says the big issues for her are the care system and state pensions, which she describes as "obscene".
Mary said: "Politicians don't take pensioners seriously as a group that could sway a government. But we're more powerful than they think - I call us the grey brigade."
First time voter Pete Griffiths is studying at the University of the West of England, in Bristol.
The 21-year-old is disappointed that the main parties are not prioritising green issues, and believes more should be done to tackle top-up fees at university.
Pete said: "Politicians have ignored climate change because of the recession, but its going to be a huge problem in the future.
"Younger people care more about green issues because we’re the ones that will suffer from global warming, along with our children and grandchildren."
John Longworth, 42, is an electrician from East London. Married with three children, he voted Tory in the last election.
John's big concerns are the war in Afghanistan and immigration.
He said: "The Labour Government has got blood on its hands after sending our boys and girls to war without the right equipment.
"My other big concern is immigration. We've lost our identity in Great Britain by opening the gates to Europe. I don't mind people who come here to to work, but there's too many people abusing the system and claiming benefits."
Fahim Choudary, 24, lives in Liverpool and works for a training company after graduating from university.
He voted for the Lib Dems in the last election, and says he wants politicians to focus on sorting out public transport and improving the economy.
He said: "MPs are always telling us they want us to stop travelling by car, but it's still too expensive to use public transport.
"Gordon Brown needs to take responsibility for the economy too - young people can't get mortgages and the country is in so much debt."
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