Voters' views: Jim Monaghan

MEET THE PANEL Name: Jim Monaghan Age: 35 Lives: Bishopbriggs, Glasgow Works: Area manager for Vauxhall Current voting intention: Labour

Politics affects everyone's life, but I don't allow it to consume much of my free time.

In my job I spend a lot of time driving and I find listening to Radio 5 Live allows me to keep up to date with what is happening, without being too "heavy".

Also Question Time is good for views on the current issues.

My own opinion is based on my personal situation at the time of an election.

When I first started working and trying to raise a family we had a Conservative government.

I bought my first house when interest rates where 14% and I could only get my son into nursery for two hours in the afternoon.

We struggled with the mortgage as my wife could only work part time. I decided to vote Labour.

In 1997, Labour got back into power and we had our second child.

VOTERS' PANEL INTRODUCTIONS Jim Monaghan Michael Marley David Hamilton Stephen Edenborough Jennifer Mackay Bob Crozier Michelle Hunt Duncan King Olivia Drennan Keith Brockie George Whillans

We had no problem getting her three full days per week at nursery and had the option of five if required.

Interest rates had come down considerably allowing us to purchase a bigger family home and my wife was able to work full time.

Today we still have a very stable lifestyle.

I will vote Labour this year due to the stable economic climate.

Labour do make mistakes, but who doesn't?

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Send us your comments on Jim's views using the form on the right.

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I totally agree with what Jim has to say. So Labour made a mistake over Iraq, big deal, it had to happen sooner or later for humanitarian reason. Education has improved under labour and I don't see a problem with top up fees for universities. Yes, I am a student, if the government is paying my tuition fees for 4/5 years and as a result I get a higher paid job I don't mind giving a little back to allow others the opportunity.
Rachel, Falkirk

If Labour are so good for Scotland then why are they using Scotland as a nuclear repository?
Neil MacLeod, Carnoustie, Scotland

Maybe if Jim spent a bit more of his free time thinking about politics, or other "heavy" issues, he'd realise he's about to vote for a government who lied to the people in order to lead us into an illegal war in which uncounted thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians died. How exactly do you feel about that, Jim? Maybe you should just turn up the volume on Radio 5 Live and drown out the possibility of any real thinking.
John Adamson, Wishaw, Scotland

Bit of a mistake invading a country on a completely false claim (which everyone else knew was made up) wasn't it? Of course, I'm sure it's a common mistake.
Alan, Dunfermline

As an economics student, I have to point out that Labour is only creating economic stability by selling your children's futures. Unfortunately, they have failed to make the necessary transaction out of a fossil fuel economy. The result of this, according to the UN, and the government's own scientists, is that by the time any grandchildren would have been in their 50's, the conditions under which life can survive on earth may well have ceased.
Adam , Edinburgh, Scotland

There is a big difference between making mistakes and deliberately lying to please a power mad right wing US president. The very fact Blair blindly follows Bush is evidence enough of how much like the Tories labour have become. They did not join the invasion of Iraq for humanitarian reasons. Blair said he would let Saddam stay if he gave up WMD. It's in Hansard.
J McKay, Glasgow, Scotland

So, Jim from Glasgow reckons that Labour have made some mistakes, but we shouldn't make that they should retain political control. 41% of households in Glasgow are living in poverty, the worst record of any Great British city. The statistics for Scotland as a whole are not much better. Labour have been in power in Glasgow almost uninterrupted since 1933. They have lead a coalition forming the Scottish Executive since 1997. They have formed the British government since 1996. Every single Glasgow MSP for first past the post is Labour. Every single Glasgow MP is Labour. What have they been doing? Labour have failed Glasgow and they have failed Scotland.
Andrew, Edinburgh

It's easy to demand more money from rich England to fund the layabout lifestyle of the Scots. I look forward to independence, to free my nation from the burden of the communist freeloaders.
Derek Blighty, UK