VOTERS in the Stroud constituency will have a pivotal role in the outcome of the looming general election.

As polls predict an ever-closer result – even a hung Parliament – the marginal is fast becoming a battleground for hearts and minds.

Gordon Brown has decided the national poll will be held alongside the local elections on Thursday, May 6, when one third of the seats on Stroud District Council will also be up for grabs.

Five parties are known to have each selected a candidate for Stroud, but more hopefuls could become apparent when the official list of nominees is published on Tuesday, April 20. The British National Party is not fielding a candidate due to a lack of resources.

Those confirmed to be standing are David Drew for Labour Co-op, Neil Carmichael for the Conservatives, Dennis Andrewartha for the Liberal Democrats, Martin Whiteside for the Greens and Steve Parker for UKIP.

The SNJ will publish interviews with all the candidates over the next fortnight, starting with David Drew and Neil Carmichael next week.

Mr Drew is the current MP however Stroud, like many rural constituencies, has historically been Tory.

Sir Anthony Kershaw held power from 1955 to 1987, followed by Roger Knapman, until Mr Drew won in the 1997 landslide.

Mr Drew’s percentage share of the vote rose by 3.9 to 46.6 in 2001, but fell by seven to 39.6 in 2005, leaving him with a majority over the Conservatives of only 350.

Meanwhile new Tory candidate Mr Carmichael saw his party’s points share decrease by 0.5 to 37.4 in 2001 but increase by 1.6 to 39 in 2005.

Both the Liberal Democrats and Greens also received smaller shares in 2001 but both made significant gains in 2005.

Polls for the next election predict a hung Parliament – where no single party secures overall majority – meaning campaigners will target marginals like Stroud.

The economy is likely to be the core issue, with pressure on public services, businesses closures and job losses, especially in manufacturing.

Other major local issues will include healthcare, education and crime, as well as the environment, development and the European Union.

Another local factor is a decision to redraw Stroud’s boundaries as part of a national independent review aimed at ensuring each constituency contains between 70,000 and 80,000 electors.

This shifts the district ward of Minchinhampton and the other half of the district ward of Wotton-under-Edge, containing North Nibley, into the Cotswolds constituency as it will be known after the general election.

The move effects about 3,500 electors in the Conservative stronghold of Minchinhampton and about 700 electors in the Tory and Liberal Democrat battleground of North Nibley.

On the big day, polling stations will be open across the constituency from 7am to 10pm.

The general election count will start straight afterwards, with that result announced that night or in the early hours of the next day.

Meanwhile the count for the district election will begin the following afternoon with the aim of announcing the result the same day.

CONSTITUENTS must register to vote by April 20 to be able to cast a ballot next month.

Stroud District Council, which draws up the local roll, is also warning residents that postal vote applications must be received by this deadline.

To be eligible to vote, a person must 18 years old or over on polling day and meet other basic criteria.

Residents are not added to the roll simply for paying council tax and those who have recently changed home must register at the new address.

However, for the general election, registered electors affected by the boundary changes will be automatically re-registered with Cotswold District Council.

To obtain a voter registration form or for more information, call 01453 754383, email elections@stroud.gov.uk or visit www.stroud.gov.uk/voting

PARTY political videos featuring each of the confirmed candidates for the Stroud constituency will be posted on the SNJ website from Thursday, April 15.

The five parliamentary hopefuls were allowed up to three minutes to explain their policies, plans and opinions directly to voters.

Watch the videos by clicking here.