THE ballot box battle is well under way but do you know who to vote for?

On Thursday June 7 residents will be voting in the General Election.

Four candidates are vying for the Mid-Worcestershire seat, which covers Droitwich Spa and surrounding villages.

In 1997, MP Peter Luff won with a large majority of 9,142.

The turnout in Mid-Worcestershire was 74.6 per cent

This week the Droitwich Spa Advertiser has given each candidate the opportunity to get their message across to our readers.

UK Independence Party

Candidate: Tony Eaves

I BELIEVE the most important issue in the election is Europe.

I think this because who shall govern the United Kingdom in the future is dependent on if we go into, or completely withdraw from, the European Union

As your MP, I will devote myself full time to your needs and those of the constituency.

Living and working in this constituency, I am well aware of the many problems that will need my urgent attention -- education, transport, law and order, health, welfare and the plight of our pensioners and farmers.

I am passionately British, proudly British, with a solid belief in freedom, independence and the right to democratically choose and change who shall govern the United Kingdom.

Remember, only the United Kingdom Independence Party will ensure that the British Government retains full control over all internal matters by withdrawing from the EU and that we will never abolish the pound for the Euro.

Liberal Democrats

Candidate: Robert Browne

I BECAME angry at social injustice and class prejudice when I was at school, and joined the Liberals as the only party with the policies and the guts to do something positive.

Since then, I have campaigned in several elections and helped fellow Liberals to become MPs and councillors.

In Mid-Worcestershire I am campaigning for fairer funding for Worcestershire schools and for the scrapping of the disgraceful tuition fees.

I want our pensioners to live free of the fear of poverty, guaranteed a decent pension without means tests, and nursing home care which does not involve having to sell their homes. Only Liberal Democrats support this.

We need more police -- numbers fell under the Tories and Labour -- as well as schemes to provide activities for youngsters.

I support the Lib Dem-led campaign to reverse the Tories' closure of the Lido, and to provide well located skateboard parks.

In Mid-Worcestershire, the last council election results show Lib Dems second to the Tories.

I appeal to those Tories who cannot stomach the thought of an uncaring Europhobic William Hague government, and Labour friends who want an opposition pressing for social justice, to join in voting Liberal Democrat just this once.

Labour

Candidate: David Bannister

AT this election, Droitwich is faced with the same choice as other towns the length and breadth of the country.

We, the Labour Party, are offering investment in public services - hospitals, schools, the police and many more - based on sound public finances (having now paid off the deficit left by the Conservatives).

The alternative on offer is unaffordable tax cuts, coupled with a reduction in services.

With Labour having come a strong second last time in Mid-Worcestershire, we are well placed to win this seat for the people of the area, who are keen to see an expansion in the investment going into services in Worcestershire.

I will never take your vote for granted, but will continue to fight for this constituency's desire to benefit from an expansion in decent public services, paid for through a strong and growing economy.

It is my strongly held view that going back to the days of boom and bust would spell disaster for this constituency and this country.

With your vote, that strong second place can be turned into a win for Labour, and more importantly, a win for the people of Droitwich and the surrounding area.

Conservative

Candidate: Peter Luff

I AM campaigning strongly on my party's national policies, but I am also emphasising the rotten deal Worcestershire has had from so-called New Labour in the last four years.

The Government refuses to give us a fair share of national spending for local services. So our schools, old people, police and fire service all receive just about the lowest funding in the country.

I am proud of what Droitwich Spa High School has done to highlight this injustice.

Among my achievements in Mid-Worcestershire, I was especially pleased to play a major part in establishing the new traders' group for Droitwich town centre.

I have also enjoyed my many visits to Westlands to work with residents there on issues that concern them.

One of my highest priorities now is to work for the reopening of the Droitwich canals.

I pledge that a Conservative government will: fight crime with more police officers and tougher sentences; reduce taxes on savers, pensioners, families and motorists; restore confidence in our local health service and give Worcestershire's schools a fairer share of national spending; defend people living and working in the countryside; keep the pound.