Keith Money, 60, owns his own accountancy firm. He is married to Sue, 54, a classroom assistant. They own a four-bedroom house in Ealing, West London. He also owns a share in two buy-to-let properties and a piece of land which he says he is “not sure what to do with”. On Gordon Brown, he says: “His policies can be a bit confused sometimes, but in general, they are going in the right direction.” Mr Money would probably vote Labour again

Impact £210 better off because of increases to personal tax allowances

Verdict Mr Money said: “I’m pleased about carbon-zero homes being exempt from stamp duty. That initiative might offer an opprtunity for me to do something with the land. Although giving child benefit to pregnant women won’t affect my family I do think it’s a positive thing.
Helen Nugent

Rebecca Gold, 22, has just graduated. She is on a starting salary of £14,500 from a traineeship with Holiday Inn and has £12,000 student debt. She relies on budget airlines for holidays because of her low salary. She lives with her parents in Stratford-upon-Avon, paying them £100 a month in rent. She feels disillusioned with politicians.

“I don’t know what any of the parties stand for any more,” she says.

Rebecca prefers Tony Blair to Gordon Brown and is not convinced by David Cameron: “His environmental concern seems fake to me,” she says.

Impact £138 better off.

Verdict “Well, they are not really budget airlines anymore, are they? I use them all the time. I have flown to Dublin and am about to go to Copenhagen. This increase in duty will limit how much I travel significantly.

“I think the idea to reduce tuition fees for those that do volunteer work is great — I would have done it. It helps everyone, although I can’t imagine all students feeling the same about that.”
Rebecca O’Connor

Farthing on Brown

Ian Farthing, 47, a teacher from Newcastle, lives with his wife, Carole, 47, and two sons, aged 19 and 17, in a five-bedroomed detached house. They are both higher-rate taxpayers, with savings in Isas and standard accounts. Both will receive teachers’ pensions. Ian says: “I think Gordon Brown would make a good Prime Minister. He has been a good Chancellor — taxes haven’t affected me too much.” Ian is against university tuition fees.

Impact £530 per year better off after an increase in personal allowances.

Verdict “It is great that money is being put into education, but it depends how it is spent. I hope this money is spent on books, supplies and equipment that the children need to learn. It is also great news that they are going to increase the number of new schools as well as refurbising existing ones. Whether the £2,000 bursary is a good idea would depend on who will qualify.”
Misty Wick()

Copper on Brown

Jonathan Copper, 35, a solicitor, lives in Letchworth with his wife Emma, 36, and their two children, Lewis, 10, and Rebecca, 8. Emma is a stay-at-home mother. They are entitled to Child Tax Credit, but do not claim it. Jonathan is a Conservative voter and unconvinced by Gordon Brown’s policies

Impact £478 per year better off from increases in personal allowances

Verdict “I am thrilled with the £200-per-pupil allowance. My son is reading a book that the teacher has photocopied for the students because the school cannot afford to have a book for each pupil. It is great that schools will be getting more funding, especially primary schools, which were not getting enough before. This year my children’s school is paying so much for fuel, electricity and heat that it is the same amount we would pay to have an extra teacher. Although the refurbishments are good, I think it is still a shame that there isn’t enough money for more teachers”
Misty Wick

Judith Pound, 27, is trying to save for a deposit to buy her first home but is finding it difficult to pay rent and save on her salary of £18,000. Judith, an insurance underwriter based in Bristol, has £3,000 in a cash Isa and student loan debt of £12,000. She is against tuition fees and thinks that the Government should do more to help first-time buyers. She usually votes for the Liberal Democrats but now says she is a floating voter.

Impact £137 a year better off because of increases to personal allowances

Verdict “I am disappointed. I will not be helped at all by the new no stamp duty policy on zero-carbon new-builds. There is no point in introducing something that does not help everyone equally. Increasing tax on air travel is also unfair. Train prices are so high that there is no alternative but to fly. People are not just going to stop taking holidays.”
Rebecca O’Connor

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