Vote 2010: where the parties stand
Updated on 06 April 2010
Where is the clear blue water between Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems on health or education? Is there any difference between the parties on Afghanistan? Here's our handy guide to the election battlegrounds.
E D U C A T I O N
The challenge of reducing the country’s deficit over the coming years means education is likely to be a bitter battleground in the election, writes Katie Razzall.
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D E F E N C E
Getting defence policy right will be a devilishly tricky job for the parties this time round, writes Carl Dinnen.
There’s a major commitment in Afghanistan and a focus on forces’ welfare like never before. And a review of how the UK defends itself is likely - there hasn’t been one since 1998.
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H E A L T H
Britain’s ageing population has pushed the issue of a national care service to the forefront of the health debate. Meanwhile, the debate on NHS funding will unfold as the main parties position themselves on the wider issue of how to cut the country’s deficit, writes Victoria Macdonald.
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S O C I A L
Anti-social behaviour and crime will be key debating points during the election campaign. Andy Davies writes about the key areas to look out for.
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F O R E I G N
While the two main parties have similar policies towards major issues such as Afghanistan and relations with the US, they have a very different outlook on the world, writes Lindsey Hilsum.
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I M M I G R A T I O N
Immigration is a high-priority issue for voters, but that may be because so many governments in the past have failed to deliver on promises, writes Simon Israel.
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E N E R G Y
The country's energy security is an issue the winning party have have to address after the general election, as is the requirement to decarbonise the economy, as Julian Rush writes.
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E U R O P E
In the past the Conservatives have torn themselves apart over Europe. Those cracks have now been papered over and the issue, for now, no longer seems the hot potato it was, writes Jonathan Rugman writes.
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C U L T U R E
With the London Olympics looming, and the size and cost of the BBC frequently in the headlines, the parties will need a clear strategy in this area. But the arts community is bracing itself, writes Nicholas Glass.
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S C O T L A N D
With just 59 seats in Westminster and a devolved assembly in Edinburgh, some are urging Scottish politicians to look beyond this election to the election of the Scottish Parliament next year, writes Emma Thelwell.
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N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D
The contest in Northern Ireland will be keenly watched - partly because it takes place against a backdrop of sexual and financial scandals and partly because the results could be crucial to the peace process, writes Eamonn Mallie.
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W A L E S
Wales sends 40 MPs to Westminster but they vote on issues that, in many cases, do not apply to their constituents, writes Katie Razzall.
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O T H E R P A R T I E S
The share of the vote commanded by the main parties has been falling in recent years as the minor parties benefit, writes Greg Callus. To read more, click here
