ELECTION LATEST: The fascinating battle of the Worcester constituency

You'd have to go back to 1974 the last time the Government of the day was able to be formed without winning Worcester, such is the grip the Faithful City has.

When the nation decided it wanted a change in 1997, Worcester led the way, with Mike Foster becoming the city's first ever Labour MP before it switched back to the Conservatives in 2010.

Now Robin Walker is making a bid to keep onto it for David Cameron with a majority of just 2,982 - meaning a three per cent swing Labour's way is all that will be required for it to turn back red.

But for all the talk of a two-horse race, what makes this contest all the more fascinating is that the other parties are sure to play a part in deciding the eventual winner.

With the Lib Dems polling badly, not many suspect Nick Clegg's party will get close to the 19 per cent share of the Worcester vote it enjoyed in 2010, although expect a good showing in Claines.

But over the last five years the Green Party's support has increased considerably, especially in areas like Battenhall and Perdiswell.

Then there is the UKIP factor - five years ago it was barely a player here, garnering less than three per cent of the city's vote share, but we've now got a different animal as last year's Worcester City Council results showed, when it finished runner-up in eight seats.

Recent polls have shown conflicting hopes for UKIP, including some lower-than-expected percentages, so this really will be a great unknown.

But with less than 3,000 votes between the big two, all of these parties could make or break Robin Walker or Joy Squires' hopes by the early hours of Friday.

Despite Mr Walker's personal popularity not many expect him to increase his majority, even within his own party, thanks to a sitting Coalition Government and the ever-fragmented nature of today's politics. But he could.

In his favour is the most recent Lord Ashcroft poll of 1,000 city adults in March which gave him an extra six per cent of the vote over Labour.

But previously the Tory peer's researchers had Cllr Squires as favourite, predicting it would be one of 83 Tory seats to go red based on a poll last October.

Both parties agree it really is too close to call with any serious confidence. A Tory hold, Labour win or even a recount would surprise nobody.

The exhausting campaigning is nearly over.

For all these candidates, it's very nearly D-Day.

ROBIN WALKER (CON)

I want to continue as Worcester's MP because there is so much that is wonderful about this city and I want to play a part in making it even better.

Our fantastic schools do an incredible job but could do even better with fairer funding, I have led the campaign to secure that, winning the first £6.7 million, but I want to get more.

Our NHS is vital and needs investment which only the Conservatives can provide - an upgrade to our A&E and longer opening hours for GPs.

Local businesses have done brilliantly at providing opportunities for young people but can do even better - I want thousands more apprenticeships and I want youth unemployment, more than halved since 2010, eliminated. We must also keep supporting pensioners.

I'll make sure people in Worcester have a say on our country's future with an EU referendum and that our County gets a strong voice in Parliament.

We need better transport, by road and by rail - my campaigns to secure a two-hour service to the capital and to dual the Southern Link can deliver this.

Most of all we need the security of a growing economy, more jobs and rising living standards.

JOY SQUIRES (LAB)

I want a better Worcester, where everyone has the opportunity to do well, wherever they live, go to school or work and whatever their background.

That’s not the Worcester we have now.

Too many have been left behind in the past five years, struggling to make ends meet in low paid jobs; young people unable to secure a decent job with regular hours or afford a home of their own; working families worse off as wages have fallen by £1600 and childcare costs have soared. The scandal of in-work poverty has left families resorting to foodbanks. Our NHS is on its knees.

With Labour, Worcester can do better than this.

You know from my campaigns to promote the Living Wage, save the Walk-in-Centre and make our pedestrian streets safer, that I will be a hands-on MP, always in touch with the local people I live alongside and involving you so that together we make Worcester a fairer place.

A Labour Government will reward hard work, provide a secure future for all our young people, a strong NHS and public services, with everyone playing by the same rules – including those at the top.

A fairer Worcester in a fairer Britain.

JAMES GOAD (UKIP)

Vote for me to see our city prosper.

UKIP’s fully-costed manifesto pledges will make your work pay, whilst ensuring your health and social needs are met.

Tackling NHS PFI costs will include free parking for you at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Merging social and health care under the NHS should alleviate problems such as bed-resourcing and A&E pressure.

Reducing the size of our colossal central Government can achieve significant savings and tax breaks. We can take less of your hard-earned money from you.

Less power for central government means more power for you.

Worcester people can enjoy added influence through local referendums.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine will be university subjects where Worcester students need not (conditionally) pay back tutorial fees after graduation.

UKIP is the only party that wants an independent UK.

By raising our eyes to more distant horizons, we can prosper beyond the confines of the parochial, dwindling and protectionist European Union.

We’re a great trading nation handicapped by ties to an economic basket-case. It’s time to leave and prosper.

Vote UKIP for a full, free and fair referendum on our EU membership.

As your MP, you would be my boss. I would be at your service.

LOUIS STEPHEN (GREEN)

My goal is to make Worcester a better place to live, work and play.

I believe we are happiest when we live in a community with a low crime rate, where people support each other, live in warm houses, have enough money to live a decent life, have good local schools for their kids, have access to a publicly run hospital, and can easily enjoy the benefits of local green spaces, managed for the benefit of wildlife as well as humans.

At Westminster my priorities would be to end austerity, bring in effective measures to curb carbon emissions and revitalise politics by reforming the House of Lords and bringing in proportional representation so that every vote counts.

I believe that the other parties have become very similar.

The Green Party is different from the other parties because of the way we are funded, mainly by our members rather than big business or the unions.

We are very democratic: our members create party policy and it is ordinary members that elect the party leadership every two years.

Please have a look at our fully costed manifesto on our website and make your own mind up before you vote.

FEDERICA SMITH (LD)

I have been involved in the Liberal Democrat Party for over 15 years and truly believe that its values and goals are there to benefit all of society and make our country a better place to live in.

I want to share these values which look to give opportunity to everyone, ensure that we have a stronger economy and live in a fairer society with all the people of Worcester.

Being an MP to me, however, is more than just party politics.

Whilst as an MP you are there to vote along your party’s ideology, a good MP is there to listen, communicate and be there for all residents, business and organisations within Worcester.

This is something that I am able to do and I would look to ensure that all constituents are listened to and feel valued.

As you may be aware I am not from Worcester, but Liberal Democrat values, which I believe in passionately ,are applicable to all.

If I should be fortunate enough to be elected to represent you, allowing me to make this beautiful city my home, I would listen to all your views and strive for the increase in the success and prosperity of this city.

MARK SHUKER (IND)

Growing up in Worcester, I have seen a big decline in opportunity.

Where in 1998 it was possible for an individual to work hard and buy a home. Warndon Villages was coming close to completion and medium-skilled work was plentiful.

Myself has been affected, as I am sure others too by relocation of industry and outsourcing of services.

My vow is to investigate this to the fullest and make Worcester a more competitive city.

I am not doing this by pointing fingers at anyone or any organisation, but it is a heartfelt plea that Worcester's future needs careful thought and planning to grow in a way that benefits as many residents as equally possible.

We do have a wonderful city that is enjoying commercial growth.

And with the Magna Carta coming into it's 800th year celebrations there is plenty of time to be proud and celebrate it's history and let the world look at us collaborating, debating for beneficial growth.

PETE MCNALLY (TUSC)

I am contesting this election to offer voters an alternative to austerity and to the capitalist establishment parties. I stand for fundamental socialist change.

This is a rich country but the wealth is in the hands of a tiny minority.

I oppose the undemocratic and unaccountable European Union and have campaigned against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

The economy should be run to provide for need, not profit.

The basic utilities of rail, power, water and Royal Mail should be taken into public ownership and democratic control.

The Private Finance Initiative and the internal market in the NHS must be ended now.

If elected I would live on the same wage I get now as a train driver and use the rest to help working class campaigns and causes.

I support £10 per hour minimum wage; for full employment rights from day one of employment, for strong fighting trade unions.

I support workers fighting austerity in Greece, Ireland and elsewhere, the rights of the Palestinian people and am inspired by the successful struggle for a $15 per hour minimum wage in the USA.

Vote Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.