Personal finance is key battleground in election

Pensions, savings and housing are likely to be key issues of this year's general election, say public policy analysts Cicero Consulting, following prime minister Tony Blair's announcement yesterday it will take place on May 5th.

While battlelines have already been drawn and none of the political parties is likely to release their election manifestos until early next week, Cicero Consulting has provided details of what it believes they are likely to contain.

Cicero warns there may be several surprises during this campaign, warning also opinion polls could be rendered virtually useless as voter turnout is expected to be even lower than in 2001, when turnout fell to its lowest level since before the second world war.

Ian Anderson,director of corporate counsel at Cicero Consulting, says: "The House of Commons library produced some research last autumn on those who were likely to vote at the next election. And it found that 45% of people who were likely to vote would be at or near pensionable age. So the grey vote, as well as that of first time buyers who can't get onto the property ladder, will put personal finance right at the heart of this election campaign."

A detailed account of what Circero Consulting believes each political party's manifesto may contain follows shortly.

If you have any comments you would like to add to this story or would like to speak to its author about a similar subject, telephone Matthew West on 020 7484 9893 or email matthew.west@incisivemedia.com.