IN the third in our series of features where reporters go on the General Election campaign trail with candidates from the four main parties in Wales, Ailsa Chalk joins Conservative Jonathan Burns in Pontypool.

TORFAEN’S Conservative parliamentary candidate got a mixed response while out on the campaign trail in New Inn.

Jonathan Burns spoke to residents in Laburnum Drive and Palm Close hoping to persuade residents to vote Conservative in the forthcoming general election.

Julian Beard, 44, who lives with his partner and three children, said he voted Labour in the last election, but was not sure which way his vote would go in May.

Mr Beard said: “I’m not a Conservative supporter and on the debate last week Nick Clegg came up and made it clear there are three parties in this race.

“I voted Labour last time, but I doubt if I will vote for them this time. It’ll either be Liberal Democrat of Conservative. After the TV debate, I’m leaning towards the Lib Dems.

“Not one other party has come house to house in this area, which I don’t think is very good when they are counting on people’s votes.”

Barrie Morgan, 68, said although Mr Burns came across as “a nice enough bloke” it would take a lot for him to vote Conservative.

He said: “I listened to what he had to say and took it on board, but it would take a lot for me to change to the Conservatives. Not quite as much now as it would have a year or two ago, but I still remember the Margaret Thatcher days.”

Bernie Ballard, 65, said he thought the televised debate gave voters a lot to think about.

He said: “I think the debate really made people think about which candidate they are going to put their cross next to. I think people went away thinking carefully about what the three leaders had to say.”

Despite voting Labour in the past, Anita Biggs said she was still undecided about whether she was going to vote at all.

She said: “I’ve always voted Labour before, apart from when Maggie Thatcher first came on the scene, because I wanted to see what a lady could do.

“Mr Burns asked me my views and I told him I’m not really sure. I don’t feel that it makes that much difference who you vote for.”

Colin Roberts, 65, is another former Labour voter, who is now rethinking his position.

He said: “I’m right on the fence at the moment. I’m still favouring Labour because I’ve always voted Labour. I think right up to the day, I won’t be sure what I’ll do.

“I think it’ll be Labour in this area because it’s such a Labour stronghold. I think it’s going to go right to the wire on this election.”