Shropshire Star voters' panel: That was the week that was

Help for troops is a winner:

This week's manifesto launches caught the eye of young parent Dan Edwards – with Ukip's plans to support ex-servicemen and women particularly pleasing him.

He said: "Re-employment for former servicemen is very important and as good as it is at the moment, it needs improving, which is why I am glad Nigel Farage is looking at.

"As I followed an apprenticeship myself, I often wonder why they cap it at 24.

"If servicemen want to learn a trade, surely it would make sense to encourage them to follow an apprenticeship, learn a new trade and get on in life.

"This really bugs me. An immature 16-year-old boy who does not know what he wants in life can get one and end up on £40,000+ a year just four years later, while a 25-year-old man who has lived a bit of life and has commitments can't.

"I'm glad housing has been looked at by the political leaders too, as you often hear horror stories where veterans have to sell medals to afford to live, while many people who choose not to work are provided with such luxuries."

Mr Farage announced that Ukip will guarantee those who have served in the Armed Forces for a minimum of 12 years a job in the police force, prison service or border force. He also said Ukip will change the points system for social housing to give priority to ex-service men and women – both points Mr Edwards, a 28-year-old electrician from Oswestry agrees with.

Smoking gets landlord’s vote:

A party that would party re-introduce smoking in pubs would win the vote of landlord Bob Hedley.

Mr Hedley, who owns the Bradford Arms Hotel in Llanymynech, near Oswestry, with his wife Cath, said he is impressed with Nigel Farage's plans for the pub trade.

But he said he feels smoking rooms are key to bringing people back to the pub trade and boosting town's and village's night time economy.

He said: "Once again punters have been praising Ukip and Nigel Farage this week since he launched his manifesto.

"There has been a lot of banter with people saying how they want the future of the industry looking and you would be surprised with the number of people who want to bring smoking back.

"There is surely scope to have a designated smoking room in pubs, which would encourage more drinkers in through the door, but keep those who don't want to be around cigarette smoke away from it."

Mr Hedley, also said he backs Ukip's plans for helping armed forces deal with life back to civvy street.

"I like that Mr Farage has plans in place to look after those coming out of the service, but I think they should take it further and have a halfway house," the 50 year-old father-of-four said.

He added: "My punters remain impressed by Ukip and their ideas."

Absent Cameron a vote loser:

The absence of David Cameron from Thursday night's leaders' debate could have lost his party one voter.

Katie Barrow, a teacher from Shrewsbury, said she found the absence of the former Prime Minister "ridiculous". She said: "I was watching the debate and the one thing I really noticed was David Cameron not being there.

"I think it was ridiculous that he wasn't there. I am new to politics and this will be my first time voting, and as a teacher it will be the first time I think about how that could affect me.

"For him not to be there has lost me. I think at one point I agreed with most of his points, but he has lost me now. It's like Ed Miliband says, if he wants the job he has to go to the interview.

"There are questions he needs to answer and he is not doing it."

In the wake of party announcements this week both Katie and her fiancé, Kieran Joglekar, said they felt more needed to be done on housing.

She said: "Another thing that I was interested in was houses. I think we need to build a lot more houses so that the prices come down, and we aren't doing enough."

Kieran said that although he felt the Conservative announcement over "right to buy" was "gimmicky", it is at least positive. He said: "I think that is a bit of a cheap vote winner because yes I know it would be great for those tenants but I have heard a lot of people saying if you are renting privately then "that is no help for us".

Impressed by Tory message:

First time voter Rebecca Saddington said the Conservative manifesto stood out the most.

"It can be argued that the Conservatives are 'the party not of working people,' as Ed Miliband stated, however I feel the release of the Conservative manifesto shows their attempt to re-brand," the 18-year-old from Muxton, Telford, said. "Their policies to reduce tax for low paid workers and increase benefits for working parents are positive.

"From a young person's perspective, I feel their plan to replace Jobseeker's allowance for 18 to 21-year-olds with a Youth Allowance, meaning they have to take an apprenticeship or do community service to claim benefits, is good as it provides valuable experience that employers are looking for.

"I feel all parties have positive aspects in their manifestos and it is obvious they have tried to move to a common centre-ground."

The Adams Grammar student also attended a debate at Abraham Darby Academy with Telford's parliamentary candidates, where she said it was good to see them taking the time to engage with young people.

"Although I am in the Wrekin constituency, not Telford, it was still interesting to attend and it was good to see the candidates taking out time to speak to young people.

"Lucy Allan, the Conservative candidate, I felt out shone the other candidates in the debate."

Couple moving away from Tories:

Pensioners Bob and Christine Groom said they were moving further away from the Tories as the General Election approaches.

The couple, of Trench, Telford, also praised all parties for their promises to provide extra funding for the NHS.

"I think it was the Tories who guaranteed same day appointments for the over-75s and longer opening hours but that pledge was in 2020, which is five years away," said Christine.

"We want something in this term but it is a step in the right direction because it will alleviate pressure on the A&Es. I would like to see doctor's surgeries open into the evening and perhaps one day over the weekend."

Bob said Labour's plans to eliminate zero hours contracts were a good move. "I haven't read all the manifestos but I believe most of the issues have been raised on TV," he said. "I think some of the interviewers have been asking ridiculous questions about spending because no one can control the world market.

"I am moving further away from the Tories because they seem to be using their dirty tricks again.

"They have been making personal comments about Ed Miliband in recent weeks as part of their campaign.

"I also think they are completely wrong about getting rid of social housing. The party doesn't seem to understand the level of poverty in some parts of this country."

Not convinced by any party:

Businessman Calvin Jones said he had still to be convinced that any party had the best interests of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) at heart.

"We have not heard much about how they will help businesses," said Mr Jones, who runs renewables company iGreen Energy. "They have all talked about business rates, but I heard somebody asking about SMEs on the radio yesterday and they didn't take any notice.

"It's a shame as they all say that SMEs are helping the country get out of this economic state. Who is going to stand up for them?"

He added that while Labour had vowed to put economic stability at the heart of its election plans, he had still to be convinced by the party's financial credentials.

"It's difficult to believe from Labour, as they left us in such a difficult position after the last election," Mr Jones added.

"I think Ed Miliband is coming over better than he had in the past, but people I talk to don't seem to like him, unfortunately.

"What struck me during the television debate was the way they all attacked Ukip. I thought there must be a reason they are turning on them, although I don't agree with a lot of what they say.

"As a renewables business, the Green Party would be perfect for me, but they have no chance of getting in."

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