Meet the famous five

The battleground is growing and changing but has it changed enough to alter its political colour?

IN 23 days North Swindon's 73,636 voters will decide who they want to represent them in Westminster.

In the last two elections, since the seat was created in 1997 because of Swindon's growth, they have chosen Labour's Michael Wills.

But the area is constantly growing and changing and the Conservatives claim they have a real chance of winning the seat this time round.

The constituency includes the affluent Highworth, Blunsdon and Abbey Meads, shown in our main picture, areas which boast high employment levels and consistently elect Conservative councillors in local elections.

But safe Labour ground is found in the less well-off council wards of Penhill, which has the highest unemployment rate in Swindon, as well as in Gorse Hill and Pinehurst and Western where the Tories make few inroads into the solid Labour vote.

However, the Conservatives have made gains in council elections of recent years in wards including Covingham and Nythe and St Philips areas which are likely to see both main parties battling hard for in this election campaign.

The Liberal Democrats rarely challenge in local council elections in North Swindon and came a distant third in the 2001 General Election.

But the party will be hoping to win over disillusioned Labour voters this time round.

That will also be the aim of Socialist Unity candidate Andy Newman.

The secretary of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition will highlight Michael Wills' decision to support the war in Iraq as he campaigns.

Robin Tingey will be hoping to better UKIP's performance in the 2001 poll when the party picked up just 800 votes.

Anti-social behaviour is a problem in several parts of North Swindon and the constituency also takes in Crick-lade, where residents' desire for a bypass is an issue candidates will have to contend with. The older populations of Blunsdon and Highworth mean pensions and development are important issues there.

But in Abbey Meads, which is dominated by younger people, new facilities for children and education particularly the problems with primary school places are much more important.

Nominations for election candidates must be in by April 19.

Michael Wills, 52. Labour. Married with five children. MP

FOR a man who never wanted to be an MP, Michael Wills seems to have come to terms with the role.

After winning the North Swindon seat in Labour's landslide 1997 election victory, he increased his majority in 2001 and is now looking for another term in Westminster.

But, in spite of joining the Labour Party when he was 16, he was never aiming for Parliament.

"I never really wanted to be an MP," he says.

"But I was very worried by what happened to the Labour Party in the 1980s and when we lost the 1992 election I thought it was important that I became involved."

And Mr Wills has enjoyed the job."By far the best thing about being an MP is the opportunity it gives you to help people who otherwise would get no help at all," he said.

"When I am able to help it is a really wonderful feeling."

Mike Evemy, 38. Liberal Democrat. Unmarried, no children. Works in advertising at Nationwide

AFTER making his General Election debut in 1997 Mike Evemy did not stand again in 2001.

But he missed the knocking on doors and leafleting in the rain so much he decided to have another go this year.

And the Swindon councillor thinks the Liberal Democrats have a real chance of success.

"I am optimistic that we can do well in the election," he says.

"I think a large number of people who voted for Labour last time are not happy with it but the Conservatives are not offering a credible alternative.

"For many of those people we are the real alternative.

" I think we will find this election being much closer than we thought so there might be some surprise results."

He was just 25 when he was first elected to the council 13 years ago and served as leader of the Lib Dems for 10 years.

Andy Newman, 43, Socialist Unity. Lives with his partner and two sons. Telecoms engineer

ANDY Newman joined the Labour Party when he was 14 and has been an active socialist since.

But for Mr Newman left the party long ago and stands in the North Swindon election as a strong critic of the Labour Government.

"I am only standing because in my view both Labour candidates are to the right of the Labour Party," he says.

"People have no enthusiasm for Tory Party mark two.

"We would like to be a constraint on how far to the right the Labour Party can go.

"I don't expect us to win but every vote for us is a serious protest against the Government."

If elected Mr Newman, who is secretary of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition, says he would only claim the average wage of a skilled worker in the constituency about £22,000 and use the rest to improve the lives of Swindonians.

Robin Tingey, 32. UK Independence Party. Single. Electrical engineer at Motorola

BRITAIN must leave the European Union to ensure that democracy is preserved, according to Robin Tingey.

Mr Tingey joined UKIP in 2001 after leaving the Liberal Democrats several years earlier because of concerns over Europe.

"UKIP is the only party that will take us out of the EU," he says.

"It is important in order to preserve democracy. If you look at the present system it is many-layered and remote."

Mr Tingey points to UKIP's success in last year's European elections to argue that the party could play a big role in the General Election.

"We are certainly going to influence the election," he says. "We can win.

"But I am not going to ignore the obvious we are a small party at the moment, it is a real battle.

"But really it is a matter for the electorate to decide how they want their country to be governed."

Justin Tomlinson, 28. Conservative. Engaged. Runs his own printing and marketing company

AT 28 Justin Tomlinson is not a stereotypical Conservative.

And this election is not even the start of his political career.

He first stood in a council by-election when he was 21 and has served on Swindon Council since he was 23.

But Coun Tomlinson says: "I wouldn't say I am young for a Conservative any more."

"There are many of us across the country of a similar age."

And the former chairman of Conservative Future thinks he has a real chance to win.

"It is a marginal seat and in the last two local elections we have decimated the Labour councillors' base, winning in seats previously held by Labour for 25 years," he said. "We have every chance of winning the North Swindon seat and as a resident there is nobody better positioned to lead that challenge."

Isabel Field