General Election: 99 days left - but how would you vote right now?

In just 99 days the voters of St Albans will be heading to the polling stations to have their say on who should govern the country for the next five years.

Conservative MP Anne Main will be looking to secure a third term representing the city in the House of Commons, but faces competition from Labour’s Kerry Pollard, who was the MP for St Albans from 1997 until 2005, the Green Party’s Jack Easton and UKIP’s Chris Wright.

Liberal Democrat’s Sandy Walkington will be hoping to go one better this year having come second to Ms Main in 2010.

Labour and the Conservatives are neck and neck in this week’s Ashcroft National Poll. Both parties are on 32 per cent, with UKIP third and unchanged on 15 per cent. The Greens are fourth on 9 per cent, down two points from last week’s peak but still ahead of the Liberal Democrats, fifth with 6 per cent.

The five prospective candidates wrote the following short statements about what they intend to do for St Albans should they win your vote and the election on May 7.

But with 99 days still to go before the poll itself, we want to know which way St Albans would jump if the vote was today.

Anne Main MP, Conservative: “It has been a privilege to represent St Albans for the past ten years.

“I never forget that I work 100 per cent for you and your family. No second job and no outside interests. I believe in being accessible and accountable.

“What the people of St Albans get is an independently-minded, strong representative.

“I’m St Albans’ voice in Westminster not Westminster’s voice in St Albans. My record shows that I am prepared to defy the whip, if needs be and to speak up for what matters to you.

“I’ve dealt with tens of thousands of personal cases since I was first elected, and meet my constituents on a regular basis: in surgeries, on market stalls and at their homes.

“I believe in working collaboratively with local councillors for the good of St Albans and engaging in all major consultations on your behalf.

“I think I’ve earned the right to say that I’m a tireless worker and my stamp duty victory is proof that I can be a successful advocate for issues that concern you and your family. “I will be campaigning on the issues that matter most to the people of St Albans: our NHS, Education, Transport, Police services, the Rail-freight proposal, the Green Belt, the Environment, animal welfare, social justice and jobs.

“Going forward in the next parliament, I believe we must continue to recognise the hard-work of the British people, and reward them by cutting waste and taxes.”

Kerry Pollard, Labour: “I am excited and enthusiastic about the challenges ahead both locally, nationally and internationally.

“Locally I would be promoting my home city of St Albans wherever and whenever I could - I've lived in St Albans most of my life, my children all educated at local schools, my service to my community stretching over 30 years - unmatched anywhere.

“The city centre is a key area for attention, supporting small business and our local shops, bring in an extra charge on large national stores to enable the rates for local shopkeepers and city centre businesses to be reduced.

“In addition I want to develop my St Albans Young Volunteers scheme - a successful pilot already undertaken. We also need affordable homes - where are our sons & daughters to live?

“A vital issue will be the development of our local NHS, I am convinced that an integrated NHS & Social Care System - as the BMA and others postulate - is vital, an ageing population, bed blocking at our hospitals all show that we need integration - big decisions for us all to take over the next few years.

“Nationally would join the Parliamentary Small Business Group which I founded when I was MP, continue my interest in both Bangladesh & Pakistan - both countries I have visited - they need our support to encourage greater democracy. I would continue my involvement in Education and Housing issues - both dear to my heart.

“I will continue where I left off in 2005 my promotion of a Teaching Hospital attached to Herts University - we need to train more doctors and nurses.”

Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat: “I have only ever stood for election in St Albans. It’s a place I’m passionate about. “Last time I received the largest increase in votes of any candidate for any party in the East of England. St Albans is now a Conservative-Lib Dem marginal.

“Liberal Democrats have added huge value to the current government, delivering huge tax reductions for low and medium earners, the biggest ever increase in the state pension, doubling apprenticeships for young people, and using the innovative pupil premium to reduce the attainment gap in schools.

“My 30-year working life in energy, telecommunications and public transport, my involvement in local voluntary organisations, my time as a councillor in St Albans - all equip me to make a real contribution at national level. In the end it comes down to values. Liberal Democrats stand for freedom, fairness, being green and international. That’s a pretty good reflection of people in St Albans too.

“Your MP should also be an energetic local champion. You can’t do that if you’re not rooted in the community. What sort of hospital and health services will we have? How do we grip Thameslink? How do we protect the Green Belt? How do we keep our marvellous city and district special? I can think of nowhere I would prefer to be.”

Jack Easton, Green Party: “This is an exciting time to be a Green party candidate. Our national profile has never been higher, with Caroline Lucas voted MP of the Year and our opinion poll ratings on the up and up.

“Locally, Councillor Grover does great work, persisting with the green agenda and at the same time giving diligent and conscientious attention to everyday issues. Here in St Albans our paid-up membership grew by over 20% in October alone.

“I like to think that people are attracted to the Greens by 3 key messages. First, we are the only party that understands sustainability and the much greater priority that we must all give to limiting man-made climate change and the depletion of the natural resources that we all depend upon.

"Second, we are the party of compassion, the party most committed to public services and to a fair deal for the most needy of our people. And third, our core principles lead to sensible, well thought out policies that are widely accepted, and that don’t get changed every time a rival politician grabs a headline.

“It is an honour to be chosen to serve the St Albans Green Party as our candidate for Parliament; it would be the utmost privilege to serve the people of St Albans from Westminster.”

Chris Wright, UKIP: